Department for Transport

Road Traffic Offences

Mr Jim Cunningham: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, what steps his Department is taking to ensure that the laws relating to traffic offences are effectively enforced.

Michael Ellis: The responsibility for the enforcement of criminal law, including traffic offences, is a matter for the Police who work under Home Office guidance. Decisions on how the Police deploy resources is a matter for the Police and Crime Commissioners and the Chief Constables for each police force. The detailed statistics on prosecutions and convictions for motoring offences between 2010 and 2017 have been fairly stable. However there has been an increase in Police using education courses under the National Driver Offender Retraining Scheme (NDORS) from 467,601 courses in 2010 to 1,445,817 in 2018. The National Speed Awareness Course impact evaluation, published in 2017, found that participation in the course was more effective at preventing speed reoffending than fines and penalty points over a period of 3 years following the initial offer to attend. The National Speed Awareness Course is now offered by most police forces in England and Wales.In March 2018, we provided a grant of £370,000 to PACTS (Parliamentary Advisory Council for Transport Safety) to run a competition to encourage the development of mobile evidential breath testing instruments which will meet the Home Office type approval requirements. Phase 2 of this competition closes at the end of June 2019. The DfT has recently invested £100,000 to support the digital capacity of the police to enable them to handle dash and helmet cam evidence in respect of road traffic offences.

Roads: Repairs and Maintenance

Dr Matthew Offord: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, what employee incentives are included in the work contracts of Highways England employees to help ensure timely completion of those works.

Michael Ellis: Highways England provides a Performance Related Pay (PRP) incentive scheme for its employees. Payments made under the scheme are directly aligned to Highways England’s performance against eleven Key Performance Indicators (KPI’s), which include timely completion of works. The KPI’s provide equal focus across a range of areas that are considered integral to the success of Highways England, encouraging collaborative behaviours in achieving successful delivery. The KPI’s include targets related to areas such as major project delivery, safety, road user satisfaction and road incident management.

Roads: Repairs and Maintenance

Dr Matthew Offord: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, if he will make it his Department’s policy to ensure that all Highway England’s works are carried out 24 hours a day subject to health and safety issues.

Michael Ellis: As part of improving road users’ experience through roadworks, Highways England considers working patterns such as 24 hours a day on an individual scheme basis. There are a number of factors that influence Highways England’s ability to adopt this approach such as: maintaining the safety of road workers and road users, location, type of work being undertaken, needs of road users and neighbouring communities, availability of resources within the construction industry and any cost implications.

Thameslink Railway Line

Mohammad Yasin: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, if he will provide the (a) punctuality and (b) reliability data for the Thameslink service between Bedford and London stations for each month of 2019 to date.

Andrew Jones: The Department holds performance data on a rail period (13 four-week periods per year) basis, rather than according to calendar months.For punctuality we hold the data as the Public Performance Measure (PPM), the percentage of trains arriving at their destination within five minutes of schedule. For reliability we hold the data as Cancellations and Significant Lateness, the percentage of services that are cancelled or delayed by more than thirty minutes.The periodic results for the Thameslink route between Bedford and London, covering all days of the week in both directions, are contained in the table below. This does include the vast majority of services that passengers from Bedford would use, except for a small number of services which stop at all stations south of St Albans, which are counted in a separate ‘metro’ category. As this is data for the entire service group, it will include some trains that did not run the full length of the route. PeriodPPMCaSL9 December 2018 – 5 January 201985.6%4.4%6 January 2019 – 2 February 201983.0%4.5%3 February 2019 – 2 March 201985.9%4.0%3 March 2019 – 31 March 201983.7%5.8%1 April 2019 – 27 April 201988.4%4.2%28 April 2019 – 25 May 201986.4%3.0%

Motor Vehicles: Exhaust Emissions

Catherine West: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, pursuant to the Answer of 22 May 2019 to Question 255354 on Motor Vehicles: Exhaust Emissions, when the Government plans to publish its review on its idling policy.

Michael Ellis: As part of our response to the Joint Committee on Air Quality, the Government committed to republishing guidance for Local Authorities on idling enforcement. Idling policy is currently under consideration and following the conclusion of this, the guidance will be updated to reflect any policy changes.

High Speed Trains: Oxford

Layla Moran: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, what assessment he has made of  the potential merits of introducing high speed trains on Cross Country services serving Oxford to increase capacity.

Andrew Jones: The Department is aware that additional capacity is needed on Cross Country routes, including Oxford. The Department is working with the operator to introduce extra rolling stock into Cross Country. This remains a priority for the Department as we consider successor franchise arrangements when the current franchise ends.

Official Cars: Procurement

Norman Lamb: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, how many vehicles have been procured for the Government Car Service since July 2015; and what the (a) make, (b) model and (c) country of manufacture is of those vehicles.

Michael Ellis: The Government Car Service (GCS) have procured 65 vehicles since July 2015.The table below shows (a) make, (b) model and (c) country of manufacture: (a)Make (b)) Model( c ) Country of ManufactureLand Rover Discovery 3.0 HSE AutoUNITED KINGDOMLand Rover Discovery 3.0 HSE AutoUNITED KINGDOMJaguar XJ LWB 3.0 Diesel LuxuryUNITED KINGDOMJaguar XJ LWB 3.0 Diesel LuxuryUNITED KINGDOMJaguar XJ LWB 3.0 Diesel LuxuryUNITED KINGDOMJaguar XJ LWB 3.0 Diesel LuxuryUNITED KINGDOMJaguar XJ LWB 3.0 Diesel LuxuryUNITED KINGDOMJaguar XJ LWB 3.0 Diesel LuxuryUNITED KINGDOMJaguar XJ LWB 3.0 Diesel LuxuryUNITED KINGDOMJaguar XJ LWB 3.0 Diesel LuxuryUNITED KINGDOMJaguar XJ LWB 3.0 Petrol PortfolioUNITED KINGDOMMondeo 2.0TiVCT Titanium HybridSPAINMondeo 2.0TiVCT Titanium HybridSPAINMondeo 2.0TiVCT Titanium HybridSPAINMondeo 2.0TiVCT Titanium HybridSPAINMondeo 2.0TiVCT Titanium HybridSPAINMondeo 2.0TiVCT Titanium HybridSPAINMondeo 2.0TiVCT Titanium HybridSPAINMondeo 2.0TiVCT Titanium HybridSPAINMondeo 2.0TiVCT Titanium HybridSPAINMondeo 2.0TiVCT Titanium HybridSPAINFord Galaxy 2.0 Ecoboost TitaniumPORTUGALMondeo 2.0TiVCT Titanium HybridSPAINMondeo 2.0TiVCT Titanium HybridSPAINMondeo 2.0TiVCT Titanium HybridSPAINMondeo 2.0TiVCT Titanium HybridSPAINMondeo 2.0TiVCT Titanium HybridSPAINJaguar F-Pace 2.0d 180ps PortfolioUNITED KINGDOMJaguar F-Pace 2.0d 180ps PortfolioUNITED KINGDOMLand Rover Discovery 3.0 SDV6 Landmark AutoUNITED KINGDOMMondeo 2.0TiVCT Titanium HybridSPAINMondeo 2.0TiVCT Titanium HybridSPAINMondeo 2.0TiVCT Titanium HybridSPAINMondeo 2.0TiVCT Titanium HybridSPAINMondeo 2.0TiVCT Titanium HybridSPAINMondeo 2.0TiVCT Titanium HybridSPAINNissan Leaf 30kw AcentaUNITED KINGDOMNissan Leaf 30kw AcentaUNITED KINGDOMFord Galaxy 2.0 Ecoboost TitaniumBELGIUMFord Galaxy 2.0 Ecoboost TitaniumBELGIUMJaguar XJ LWB 3.0 V6 340PS PortfolioUNITED KINGDOMJaguar XJ LWB 3.0 V6 340PS PortfolioUNITED KINGDOMJaguar XJ LWB 3.0 V6 340PS PortfolioUNITED KINGDOMHonda CR-V EX 2.0 I-VTECUNITED KINGDOMHonda CR-V EX 2.0 I-VTECUNITED KINGDOMHonda CR-V EX 2.0 I-VTECUNITED KINGDOMHonda CR-V EX 2.0 I-VTECUNITED KINGDOMHonda CR-V EX 2.0 I-VTECUNITED KINGDOMHonda CR-V EX 2.0 I-VTECUNITED KINGDOMHonda CR-V EX 2.0 I-VTECUNITED KINGDOMHonda CR-V EX 2.0 I-VTECUNITED KINGDOMHonda CR-V EX 2.0 I-VTECUNITED KINGDOMHonda CR-V EX 2.0 I-VTECUNITED KINGDOMJaguar I-PACE EV400 SEAUSTRIAJaguar I-PACE EV400 SEAUSTRIARange Rover 2.0 P400e Vogue 4dr AutoUNITED KINGDOMRange Rover 2.0 P400e Vogue 4dr AutoUNITED KINGDOMRange Rover 2.0 P400e Vogue 4dr AutoUNITED KINGDOMRange Rover 2.0 P400e Vogue 4dr AutoUNITED KINGDOMRange Rover 2.0 P400e Vogue 4dr AutoUNITED KINGDOMJaguar I-PACE EV400 SEAUSTRIAJaguar I-PACE EV400 SEAUSTRIAJaguar I-PACE EV400 SEAUSTRIAJaguar XF Saloon 2.0i Prestige 4dr AutoUNITED KINGDOMJaguar XF Saloon 2.0i Prestige 4dr AutoUNITED KINGDOM

Cycling

Helen Hayes: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, what steps he is taking to amend road planning regulations to encourage the uptake of cycling; and if he will make a statement.

Michael Ellis: The Government’s recently strengthened National Planning Policy Framework says that local authorities should promote healthy, inclusive and safe places which encourage walking and cycling. The Department for Transport’s guidance on Local Cycling and Walking Infrastructure Plans (LCWIPs) helps local authorities to identify priorities for investment and a pipeline of projects to encourage more walking and cycling. The Department has also recently revised its Traffic Signs Regulations and General Directions to enable the use of various innovations which will support the uptake of cycling, including low-level cycle signals, a new parallel crossing for pedestrians and cyclists, and new ways of signing cycling and walking routes. The Department is updating Local Transport Note 2/08 ‘Cycle Infrastructure Design’ and will publish the updated guidance in due course.

Aircraft: Electric Motors

Paul Farrelly: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, what assessment he has made of the feasibility of all domestic flights being made by electric aircraft by 2040.

Michael Ellis: Hybrid and fully-electric aircraft have the potential to transform aviation. Whilst no specific assessment of this nature has been made, the Government has committed £155m to support a new era of cleaner and greener aviation. This includes £125m of Government funding for the Future Flight Industrial Strategy Challenge to support the next generation of electric planes and autonomous aircraft, alongside support for projects such as the joint Rolls Royce, Airbus and Siemens E-Fan X, a hybrid-electric flight demonstrator. Our consultation on Aviation 2050, the Government’s long-term vision for aviation, sought views on how to address the environmental challenges and the role that new technology and innovation can play in sustainable growth for aviation. We will publish the White Paper later in 2019.

Aviation: Renewable Fuels

Paul Farrelly: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, with reference to the 25 Year Environment Plan, whether his Department plans to provide additional support for the development of sustainable aviation fuels.

Michael Ellis: The 25 Year Environment Plan noted that the Government would explore different infrastructure options for managing residual waste, including the production of biofuels for transport and emerging innovative technologies. Under the Renewable Transport Fuel Obligation (RTFO), biofuels reported as being made from waste have risen from 12 per cent of total biofuel supply in the first year of the obligation 2008/09 to 66 per cent in 2017/18. Building on that success the Government introduced changes to the RTFO last year which extended eligibility for rewards under the RTFO to aviation fuels. We are also making available up to £20 million of matched capital funding to projects that will produce low carbon waste-based fuels to be used in aeroplanes and lorries through the Future Fuels for Flight and Freight Competition. The Department is also discussing with industry whether fuels produced from non-biogenic wastes, including those that are difficult to recycle, should be supported under the RTFO. The Government’s new aviation strategy, Aviation 2050 – The future of UK aviation, will be published later this year. Through consultation on that Strategy the Government is considering further policies it can put in place to assist the long-term uptake of sustainable alternative fuels in this sector.

Aviation: Exhaust Emissions

Paul Farrelly: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, what assessment he has made of the potential merits of requiring airlines to publish emission output estimates to (a) transparency and (b)  aircraft efficiency.

Michael Ellis: In December 2018 the Government published a green paper on its new aviation strategy, ‘Aviation 2050 – The future of UK aviation’. This included proposals for tackling aviation’s carbon emissions, taking into account the UK’s domestic and international obligations. One of the potential carbon abatement measures consulted on in the green paper is to ask airports to publish league tables of the environmental efficiency of airport and airline operations. The public consultation on the green paper closed on 20 June 2019, and the department will now consider the responses and assess the merits of the potential carbon abatement measures to determine which will be taken forward. The final Aviation 2050 strategy will present a clear approach to carbon abatement and ensure that aviation contributes its fair share to action on climate change. It is due to be published later this year. Aggregate airline emissions are already published at a European level through the EU Emission Trading System (ETS). Reporting coverage will be expanded under the International Civil Aviation Organisation’s (ICAO) Carbon Offsetting and Reduction Scheme for International Aviation (CORSIA) which includes all airline emissions on international routes. The first emissions data for CORSIA will be available during 2020.

Great Northern Railway Line

Alistair Burt: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, what steps he is taking to tackle the practice of stop-skipping on the Great Northern line at Arlesey.

Andrew Jones: Omitting scheduled station stops (‘skip-stopping’) is used in exceptional circumstances where there is disruption to restore the service to schedule for the peaks as quickly as possible. We expect the operator to make the correct operational decisions which balance the needs of passengers who are inconvenienced by taking stops out of service against the wider advantage to passengers of getting services back on schedule as soon as possible. Operators are expected to communicate this to passengers in good time where possible, and to provide affected passengers with advice on the alternative options to complete their journey. Officials meet regularly with GTR to discuss performance and the operator has confirmed that it tries to protect stations like Arlesey where there are no alternative modes of transport. Where trains do miss these stations GTR has a procedure to try and ensure that the next fast service does call there.

Great Western Railway Line

Andy McDonald: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, what assessment he has made of the (a) performance of the Intercity Express Trains on the Great Western Railway and (b) ability of those trains to meet the requirements of the December 2019 timetable.

Andrew Jones: The industry timetable change assurance programme management office assesses all timetable bids for their deliverability, including the Great Western Railway 2019 timetable, and will work with all operators to ensure appropriate operational plans are in place to mitigate any outstanding risks to the smooth introduction of the timetable.

Public Transport: Rural Areas

David Simpson: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, what steps his Department is taking to increase the provision of public transport in rural areas.

Ms Nusrat Ghani: The Government recognises the importance of public transport in rural areas. All local authorities in England have powers to subsidise socially necessary bus services. The Department provides £43 million per year to local authorities to support this. The Bus Services Act 2017 provides tools for local authorities to work more effectively with bus operators to improve bus services. A number of projects from the £11.5 million Building Connections Fund will provide new community transport links to support people at most risk of isolation.On rail, the Department’s Community Rail Development Strategy, published in Nov 2018, looks for ways to make it easier for the rail industry and local community rail partnerships to improve services and stations on local branch lines.

Electric Vehicles: Charging Points

David Simpson: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, what plans he has to introduce electric charging points for cars at petrol stations.

Michael Ellis: The Government has had a number of discussions with petrol service station operators about the provision of electric vehicle charge points. We want to encourage and leverage private sector investment to build and operate a self-sustaining public network supported by the right policy framework. In many cases, the market is better-placed than government to identify the right locations for chargepoints and it is essential that viable commercial models are in place to ensure continued maintenance and improvements to the network. Already, the vast majority of chargepoints now being installed are funded with private money and we want to see this trend continue. The Automated and Electric Vehicles Act gives the Government new powers to mandate provision of chargepoints at Motorway Service Areas and large fuel retailers. The Government will continue to monitor the market and will bring forward regulation using these powers if the market fails to deliver the infrastructure required.

Road Traffic

David Simpson: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, what steps his Department is taking to reduce congestion on the roads during rush hours.

Michael Ellis: This Government is determined to improve journeys for all motorists which is why we are spending more than £50 billion between 2015 and 2025 to tackle congestion and maintain the condition of roads in England. On England’s Strategic Roads, our motorways and main ‘A’ roads, the Government is spending £17.6 billion between 2015 and 2020 which includes a dedicated Congestion Relief Programme, as part of the first Road Investment Strategy. A further £25.3 billion is expected to be spent between 2020 and 2025 to deliver the second Road Investment Strategy. On local authority roads, £420 million in the 2018/19 financial year was allocated for the repair of roads (including potholes), bridges and local highways infrastructure generally, on top of the £6.2 billion allocation for maintenance between 2015 and 2021. Between 2015/16 and 2020/21 the Government has provided local highway authorities with £1.29 billion from the Integrated Transport Block which is for small scale transport improvements, including schemes to ease congestion. Between 2020 and 2025, £3.5 billion has been announced for the Major Road Network and Large Local Majors programme which will provide increased focus and funding certainty to the most important local authority roads.

Driving: Licensing

David Simpson: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, how many driving licences were revoked due to medical issues in 2018.

Michael Ellis: The number of Group 1 (car/motorcycle) and Group 2 (Bus/lorry) drivers whose driving entitlement was revoked or refused for medical reasons in 2018 is provided in the table below: YearGroup 1Group 2201861,48212,242 It should be noted that there may be a number of drivers who would have been revoked or refused for both Group 1 and Group 2 licences, and therefore may be duplicated in the figures above.

South Eastern Rail Franchise

Andy McDonald: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, pursuant to the Answer of 12 June 2019 to Question 260025, what assessment he has made of the potential effect of proposals in the High Speed One five-year asset management statement to increase track access charges for domestic rail services by 25 per cent on the financial viability of the South Eastern rail franchise.

Andrew Jones: I refer the Hon. Member to my previous answer of 12 June 2019. We do not expect High Speed 1 (HS1) to make changes that would impact the financial viability of the current or future Southeastern franchise. The Government expects the independent Regulator, the Office of Rail and Road (ORR), to provide robust and rigorous challenge to HS1’s proposals as part of the Periodic Review process. This should include giving detailed consideration to affordability for operators and freight users.

South Eastern Rail Franchise

Andy McDonald: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, pursuant to the Answer of 12 June 2019 to Question 260025, what assessment he has made of the viability of proposals in the High Speed One five-year asset management statement to increase track access charges for rail freight by 74 per cent.

Andrew Jones: The Government expects the independent Regulator, the Office of Rail and Road (ORR), to provide robust and rigorous challenge to HS1’s proposals as part of the Periodic Review process. This should include giving detailed consideration to affordability for operators and freight users.

Travel: Costs

Caroline Lucas: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, what estimate he has made of the percentage change in real terms of the average cost to the individual of travelling by (a) private car, (b) bus, (c) train and (d) domestic aeroplane since (i) 1980, (ii) 1997, (iii) 2010 and (iv) 2015.

Michael Ellis: (a-c) The Department for Transport publishes statistics on travel costs, based on data from the Office for National Statistics (ONS), in the Transport Statistics Great Britain compendium. This is available from Table 1308 at the link below:https://www.gov.uk/government/statistical-data-sets/transport-expenditure-tsgb13 Please note this table gives absolute changes in the indices and covers 1987 to 2017. (d) The costs of travelling by air are not available from ONS data. However, DfT estimates are available based on fare data collected from the Civil Aviation Authority passenger survey from 2000. The real cost of the average UK one-way air fare, including taxes and charges, covering domestic flights from 2010 to 2017 decreased by 22%. From 2015 to 2017 the real cost decreased by 7%.

Aviation: Costs

Caroline Lucas: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, what estimate he has made of the percentage change in real terms of the average cost to the individual of travelling by international aeroplane since (a) 1980, (b) 1997, (c) 2010 and (d) 2015.

Michael Ellis: According to the Office for National Statistics International Passenger Survey the estimated real cost of the average one-way air fare covering scheduled direct international flights from 2010 to 2017 decreased by 24%. From 2015 to 2017 the real cost decreased by 18%. Fare data is inclusive of all taxes and charges and are unavailable prior to 2000.

Transport: Exhaust Emissions

Caroline Lucas: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, what recent comparative assessment he has made of the average greenhouse gas emissions per kilometre of an individual travelling by (a) private car, (b) bus, (c) train and (d) aeroplane travelling on a domestic route; and if he will make a statement.

Michael Ellis: This information is not available. Total greenhouse gas emissions for each mode of transport are published in Transport Statistics Great Britain table ENV0201: https://www.gov.uk/government/statistical-data-sets/energy-and-environment-data-tables-env. Total emissions for each transport mode are calculated using various methodologies and data sources. Due to the differences in data sources and calculation methods, it is currently not possible to disaggregate total emissions in a way that allows the calculation of comparable average passenger emissions for the different transport modes. The Department for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy does produce conversion factors for use in company reporting, covering a full range of activities which produce greenhouse gas emissions, although these figures are not statistically evidential.

East Coast Railway Line

John Grogan: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, what the timeframe is for the commencement of the additional rail services between London and Bradford detailed in the east coast franchise.

Andrew Jones: LNER is working to introduce direct services between London and Bradford by the end of 2020.

Biofuels

Dr David Drew: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, when he plans to publish the Government response to the consultation on E10.

Michael Ellis: Any decision to introduce E10 as a new grade of petrol must balance the needs of consumers with the emissions reductions it could help to deliver. Further to its call for evidence last year on whether, and how best, E10 might be introduced in the UK, the Department is working hard to publish a response as soon as possible this year.

East Midlands Rail Franchise

Andy McDonald: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, when he plans to announce the services between Nottingham and Liverpool provided by the East Midlands Railway franchise.

Andrew Jones: Information on service improvements in the next East Midlands franchise was detailed in the franchise announcement on 10 April 2019.  This can be found on the Department’s website at https://www.gov.uk/government/news/more-seats-services-and-state-of-the-art-trains-for-passengers-on-new-east-midlands-railway. Further details will be available from the operator when the new franchise starts in August 2019. As announced in the East Midlands Stakeholder Briefing Document on 7 June 2018, in response to the public consultation, the Department intends to transfer the Liverpool-Nottingham section of the Liverpool–Norwich service out of the East Midlands franchise from December 2021. This change will bring a number of passenger benefits, including more capacity on the Liverpool–Nottingham section where there is overcrowding at times today, faster journey times, a more reliable service and enabling each half of the service to better meet their individual needs and those of routes they interact with. The transfer is subject to detailed assessment of how it will be carried out and a decision as to the best long-term operator for Liverpool – Nottingham services, which will be made in conjunction with Transport for the North. Further details will be made available in due course.

East Midlands Rail Franchise

Andy McDonald: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, whether he has plans to transfer Barton on Humber services in to the East Midlands Railway franchise.

Andrew Jones: As detailed in the East Midlands franchise announcement on 10 April, the Barton-on-Humber to Cleethorpes service is planned to transfer from the Northern to the East Midlands franchise, delivering enhanced services on refurbished modern trains, providing more capacity, free Wi-Fi and air conditioning.

Taxis: Disability

Steve McCabe: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, what the timescale is for bringing forward legislative proposals to make disability equality training mandatory for taxi and minicab drivers.

Ms Nusrat Ghani: I know that disability awareness training can provide taxi and private hire vehicle (PHV) drivers with the skills, knowledge and confidence to give disabled passengers the assistance they need, and am clear that licensing authorities should use their existing powers to require drivers to complete it. On 12th February the Government published its response to the report of the Chair of the Task and Finish Group on Taxis and PHV licensing, indicating its intention to introduce mandatory disability awareness training as part of National Minimum Standards when Parliamentary time allows.

Maritime Safety Committee

Karl Turner: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, what the policy outcomes were of the 101st session of the International Maritime Organisation’s Maritime Safety Committee, 5 to 14 June 2019; what the Government’s negotiating position was under each item at that session; and how the outcomes of that session will affect future regulation of safety standards in the shipping industry.

Ms Nusrat Ghani: The International Maritime Organization (IMO) will release an outcome report of the 101st session of the Maritime Safety Committee in due course. This will detail the outcome of each item at the session. There were 23 agenda items and 140 papers discussed and the UK had agreed positions for each of the policies. Some of the key safety items from the session were the regulatory scoping exercise on Maritime Autonomous Surface Ships, goal-based standards and safety level approach, safety of ships in polar waters, development of further measures to enhance the safety of ships relating to the use of fuel oil, e-navigation and domestic ferry safety. The UK Government is committed to working with the IMO and other Member States to work towards maintaining and improving safety standards across the wider maritime sector as a whole. The UK will endeavour to block inappropriate or disproportionate legislation that the UK considers may place an undue burden on industry, and to work tactically with other States to achieve UK lines.

Maritime Safety Committee

Karl Turner: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, if he will publish the names of the Government's delegation to the 101st session of the International Maritime Organisation’s Maritime Safety Committee which took place between 5 and 14 June 2019.

Ms Nusrat Ghani: The Government’s delegation to the 101st session of the International Maritime Organization's Maritime Safety Committee was: Head of DelegationMiss Katy Ware, Permanent Representative of the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland to IMO and Director of Maritime Safety and Standards, Maritime and Coastguard Agency (MCA). AlternatesMr Kevin Hunter, International Relations Manager (Technical), MCA.Mr Gwilym Stone, Assistant Director, Ship Standards, MCA.   Advisors Mr Shaun Rogers, Head of International Liaison, MCA.Dr Katrina Kemp, Smart Ships and Automation Policy Officer, MCA.Mr Regi John, Head, External Monitoring and Assurance, MCA.Mr Bennett Ng, Environmental Policy Specialist, MCA.Mr Fabio Fantozzi, Policy Lead, Marine Technology, MCA.Mr Andrew Wibroe, International Relations Officer (Technical), MCA.Mr David MacRae, Environmental Policy Specialist, MCA.Mr Simon Lynch, Senior Lawyer, Legal Advisors (Maritime), Department for Transport (DfT).Ms Alexandra Harverson, Senior Lawyer, Maritime, DfT.Ms Katie Goodall, Senior Lawyer, Maritime, DfT.Mr Ayden Peach, Lawyer, Maritime, DfT.Mr Martin Jordison, Lawyer, Maritime, DfT.Ms Masuma Khalique, Lawyer, Maritime, DfT.Mr Graham Dixon, International Shipping and Counter Piracy, DfT.Mr Darren Haynes, Registrar and Deputy Head, Defence Maritime Regulator (DMR) Defence Safety Authority (DSA), Ministry of Defence (MoD).Mr Steve Pearson, Team Leader, DMR, DSA, MoD.Dr Ann Fitchett, Safety and Environmental Protection Policy and Legislation Principle, DMR, DSA, MoD.Ms Kim Brown, Senior Environmental Inspector, DMR, DSA, MoD.Mr Akash Rana, Inspector, DMR, DSA, MoD.Mr James Dalgliesh, Policy Adviser, DMR, MoD.Mr Michael Vibert, Maritime Security Team Leader, Foreign and Commonwealth Office (FCO).Ms Fena Boyle, Nautical Manager, UK Chamber of Shipping.Mr Robert Carington, Policy Adviser, UK Chamber of Shipping.Mr Cameron Mitchell, Deputy Director, Isle of Man Ship Registry.Mr Anderson Chaplow, Senior Specialist, Marine, Lloyd’s Register EMEA.Mr John Dodd, Director, Safety and Standards Maritime, Inmarsat.Mrs Alison Horrocks, Company Secretary, Inmarsat.Mr Nick Ashton, Marine MSI Manager, UK Meteorological Office.Mr Christopher Balls, Principal Surveyor, Cayman Islands Shipping RegistryMr Gonzague de Lhoneux, Vice President, Apax Partners

Shipping: Crew

Karl Turner: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, with reference to Table SFR0101 in his Department's statistical series, Estimated UK Seafarers active at sea by type: 1997 to 2018, what estimate he has made of the number of UK (a) Ratings and (b) Officers employed by companies that are not members of the UK Chamber of Shipping.

Ms Nusrat Ghani: While an attempt was made to collect information from companies who are not members of the UK Chamber of Shipping, the response rate was not sufficient to allow a robust estimate of the number of ratings and officers employed by these companies to be produced.

Shipping: Crew

Karl Turner: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, if he will request from the UK Chamber of Shipping data on the (a) age and (b) gender profile of the seafarer workforce featured in Data Table SFR0303 Seafarers active at sea by type and nationality group, UK Chamber of Shipping member companies: 2012 to 2018.

Ms Nusrat Ghani: Data on the (a) age and (b) gender profile of UK seafarers active at sea employed by UK Chamber of Shipping member companies are published in Statistical Table SFR0302. Data for non-UK nationalities are not held at a sufficient enough quality to allow robust estimates to be made.

Department for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy

Offshore Industry: Agency Workers

Alex Cunningham: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy, what steps he is taking to ensure that the employment of agency workers on drilling rigs in the offshore drilling industry is compliant with the provisions of the Agency Workers Regulations 2010.

Alex Cunningham: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy, if he will make an assessment of changes in employment practices of major drilling contractors in the offshore oil and gas industry since 2015.

Kelly Tolhurst: Workers within the offshore oil and gas industry in internal or territorial waters, or working regarding exploitation of the continental shelf, are entitled to the same protections as UK workers. This includes receiving the National Minimum Wage for all their work on installation, construction and maintenance, regardless of nationality or where they ordinarily work. As with all other workers, their terms and conditions of employment are for negotiation and agreement between employers and employees (or their representatives). Once agreed they form a legally binding contract of employment. While it is always open to either party to seek to renegotiate the terms of the contract, if the employer changes any of the terms without the employee’s agreement, the employee may be entitled to seek legal redress. Agency workers’ rights conferred by the Agency Worker Regulations 2010 are self-enforced at an Employment Tribunal. The enforcement body for the recruitment sector, the Employment Agency Standards inspectorate (EAS), investigates every relevant complaint that falls under its remit as set out in the Employment Agencies Act 1973 and has a strong track record in upholding the rights of agency workers.

Solar Power: Housing

Marion Fellows: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy, what steps his Department is taking to ensure the affordability of household solar panels.

Chris Skidmore: Holding answer received on 20 June 2019



Solar is a UK success story, having until now accounted for 81% of the total 6.6GW installed capacity under the Feed-in Tariff (FIT) scheme. Since 2010, the FIT scheme has supported over 850,000 installations, 99% of which are solar. On 10 June, we launched our Smart Export Guarantee, which will ensure that small-scale generators are paid for the power they export to the grid. This coupled with the fact that residential solar panels are now over 50% cheaper than in 2011, makes solar more affordable than ever.

Innovate UK

Jonathan Edwards: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy, how much funding Innovate UK has allocated to research and development in each year since its inception.

Jonathan Edwards: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy, how much funding Innovate UK plans to allocate to research and development in each of the next five years.

Jonathan Edwards: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy, how many projects Innovate UK has provided funding for in (a) England, (b) Wales, (c) Scotland, (d) Northern Ireland and (e) London and the South East in each year since its inception.

Jonathan Edwards: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy, how much funding Innovate UK has allocated in (a) England, (b) Wales, (c) Scotland, (d) Northern Ireland and (e) London and the South East in each year since its inception.

Chris Skidmore: We have announced increases in public R&D spending worth £7bn up to 2021/2022, and we are working with UK Research and Innovation and other key partners to develop a roadmap that sets out how government and industry will work together to reach our target of increasing R&D investment to 2.4% of GDP by 2027, which would be the highest recorded level, and 3% in the longer-term. Over the last 12 years Innovate UK, now part of UK Research and Innovation, has invested over £2.2 billion in innovation. This has spanned more than 11,000 projects that have generated up to £16 billion in Gross Value Added for the UK economy and 70,000 jobs. Innovate UK funding allocated to research and development in each year since its inception The table below shows the amount that Innovate UK has committed to funding on Research and Development by the year that the commitment was made. Research and development funding2006/07£132,567,2982007/08£213,616,1992008/09£157,783,6582009/10£176,074,8772010/11£165,808,7232011/12£175,196,3312012/13£411,198,9322013/14£523,897,3722014/15£535,675,6612015/16£643,691,0982016/17£550,005,0382017/18£821,634,0472018/19£827,948,763 [Note: This excludes funding of networks such as the Knowledge Transfer Network and other product types such as vouchers and Catapult Centre funding]. How much funding Innovate UK plans to allocate to research and development in each of the next five years Financial allocations for 19/20 have been announced in the Innovate UK delivery plan (https://www.ukri.org/files/about/dps/innovate-uk-dp-2019/ ). Future years are subject to Spending Review.   How many projects Innovate UK has provided funding for in England, Wales, Scotland, Northern Ireland, and London, and the South East in each year since its inception. The table below shows the number of projects Innovate UK have funded by region of the UK in which the lead organisations were registered. Numbers are based on the year in which the commitment was made. EnglandWalesScotlandNorthern IrelandLondon and the South East2006/072117142912007/082305154982008/0929442311442009/105131429102722010/11666206942862011/1210542063153502012/13158755116306182013/14201958135177562014/152640982374410112015/162533982274010512016/17126553107524912017/18169364153397032018/1915696012956699   How much funding Innovate UK has allocated in England, Wales, Scotland, Northern Ireland, and London, and the South East in each year since its inception. The table below shows the total value of grants offered by Innovate UK by region of the UK in which the lead organisations were registered. Numbers represent commitment and are based on the year that commitment was made.  EnglandWalesScotlandNorthern IrelandLondon and the South East2006/07£117,426,262£3,855,738£10,744,846£540,452£55,878,9022007/08£198,608,711£5,013,249£6,100,626£3,880,492£73,159,3202008/09£142,766,161£1,565,802£12,254,492£1,187,236£43,042,9782009/10£166,865,678£2,298,082£13,158,634£3,688,488£109,465,2482010/11£156,155,605£4,317,506£12,487,494£2,858,999£59,966,6732011/12£699,163,960£5,584,958£62,892,840£4,624,934£75,074,7752012/13£661,810,021£8,615,759£59,743,798£4,720,327£311,592,3302013/14£557,276,122£12,463,835£21,813,818£7,134,544£230,497,4172014/15£1,097,629,553£12,963,304£105,420,565£11,223,022£578,784,8672015/16£631,354,881£14,910,639£32,672,269£10,367,163£230,784,2842016/17£668,901,947£18,936,577£26,605,922£11,252,102£263,758,7542017/18£969,369,925£22,808,398£43,580,722£6,139,749£366,559,8082018/19£1,782,244,610£66,263,287£164,476,668£25,554,284£687,404,4142018/2019 Population (mid 2017 from ONS)55,619,4303,125,1655,424,8001,870,83417,905,8262018/2019 Per Capita commitment£32.04£21.20£30.32£13.66£38.39

Department for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy: Sustainable Development

Emily Thornberry: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy, what assessment his Department has made of the potential effect of the UK leaving the EU with no deal on his Department’s ability to achieve Sustainable Development Goal 9 in the UK.

Chris Skidmore: Leaving the EU, either with or without a deal, will not affect our commitment to the Sustainable Development Goals or delivering the Industrial Strategy, our long-term plan to boost the productivity and earning power of people throughout the UK.This government has made a record investment in infrastructure with £37bn committed through the National Productivity Investment Fund by 2023-24. This includes £2.5bn for Transforming Cities Fund​, £5.5bn for the Housing Infrastructure Fund​, and £740m for digital infrastructure. Government spending on infrastructure (Gross Fixed Capital Formation) is up 3% in the last year, with public and private sector investment totalling over £358bn in 2018.Sector Deals are supporting billions of pounds of investment from the public and private sector and important sectoral reforms on issues such as technology diffusion and workforce diversity.The Clean Growth Grand Challenge and in particular the mission ​to establish the world’s first net-zero carbon industrial cluster by 2040 and at least one low-carbon cluster by 2030, demonstrates our commitment to more sustainable industrialisation for the future of our country.Innovation lies at the heart of the Industrial Strategy resulting in the biggest increase in R&D funding ever. We have committed an extra £7bn by 2021/22 including £1.7bn already allocated to innovative programmes supporting industry and researchers through the first two waves of the Industrial Strategy Challenge Fund​.​The UK’s first Voluntary National Review (VNR) will be published shortly. The VNR will review UK action both domestically and internationally in support of Goal 9. It will also outline key challenges and next steps, recognising that while progress is being made, there is more work to do.

Parental Leave

David Linden: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy, pursuant to the Answer of 18 June 2019 to Question 264463 on Parental Leave: Childbirth, for how long the consultation will last.

Kelly Tolhurst: Department for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy indicated that it will not be possible to answer this question within the usual time period. An answer is being prepared and will be provided as soon as it is available.

Parental Leave

David Linden: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy, with reference to The Prime Minister's oral contribution of 28 November 2018, Official Report, column 246 and pursuant to the Answer of 18 June 2019 to Question 264462, on Parental Leave: Childbirth, whether the Secretary of State for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy has informed her of his reasons for the key findings of the review of the provisions for parents of premature babies to not now be shared with interested parties.

Kelly Tolhurst: Department for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy indicated that it will not be possible to answer this question within the usual time period. An answer is being prepared and will be provided as soon as it is available.

Restaurants: Billing

Helen Goodman: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy, if he will bring forward legislative proposals to ban the practice of employers requiring waiting staff to pay for clients' unpaid bills.

Kelly Tolhurst: Department for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy indicated that it will not be possible to answer this question within the usual time period. An answer is being prepared and will be provided as soon as it is available.

Research: Disclosure of Information

Daniel Zeichner: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy, what steps his Department is taking to assess the economic effect of each of the policy options being considered as part of the UK Research and Innovation review into open access policy.

Daniel Zeichner: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy, what assessment he has made of the potential effect of the forthcoming open access policy on researchers who do not qualify for UK Research and Innovation Open Access funding and support.

Daniel Zeichner: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy, what steps the Government is taking to ensure that UK researchers are able to collaborate with international researchers following the implementation of UK Research and Innovation's forthcoming open access policy.

Chris Skidmore: On the subjects of economic impact, international collaborations and effects on researchers I refer the hon. Member to the answers I gave the hon. Member for Newcastle upon Tyne Central on 14th February 2019 to Question 219418 and on 19th February 2019 to Question 219422.UKRI are continuing to conduct evidence gathering, analysis and stakeholder engagement as part of their Open Access Review, including with researchers and publishers, and will set out a policy position for consultation in due course. UKRI’s mission is to work in partnership with universities, research organisations, businesses, charities and Government to create the best environment for research and innovation to flourish and to create social and economic impact. The Open Access Review will continue under these principles, and the issues raised by the hon. Member are all being considered by UKRI as part of the ongoing process.The Department is working closely with UKRI on Open Access and will continue to do so after the announcement of the outcomes of the review which is expected in Spring 2020.

Climate Change

Sir Christopher Chope: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy, what assessment he has made of the (a) costs and (b) benefits to council tax payers of local authorities in England declaring a climate emergency in their area; and if he will make a statement.

Chris Skidmore: The Government welcomes the actions of Local Authorities across England to tackle climate change. We have always been clear that to achieve our climate targets it will take significant ambition at all levels. Achieving clean growth has to be a shared endeavour between government, local authorities, businesses, civil society and the British people. The development of Local Industrial Strategies, led by Mayoral Combined Authorities and Local Enterprise Partnerships, will build on unique local strengths to ensure every community, and the country, reaches their economic potential, supports clean growth and green jobs. Most motions have committed Councils to come back later this year with programmes to achieve their stated ambitions. This Government is looking at what support we can provide through our local energy programme and other programmes to help Councils make progress in taking action to tackle climate change.

Climate Change

Sir Christopher Chope: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy, what assessment he has made of the effect on climate change of local authorities in England declaring a climate emergency in their area; and if he will make a statement.

Chris Skidmore: The Government welcomes the actions of Local Authorities across England to tackle climate change. We have always been clear to achieve our climate targets will take significant ambition at all levels. Most motions have committed Councils to come back later this year with programmes to achieve their stated ambitions. This Government is looking at what support we can provide through our local energy programme and other programmes to help Councils make progress in taking action to tackle climate change.

Foreign and Commonwealth Office

Sudan: Violence

Catherine West: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, what recent steps the Government has taken to support doctors treating the victims of violence during protests in Khartoum.

Harriett Baldwin: The British Government is deeply concerned by reports that hospitals in Khartoum were being controlled and targeted by Sudanese security forces. It is unacceptable for injured civilians to be prevented access to medical facilities. These are not the actions of responsible and credible authorities representing the people of Sudan.On 6 June, I summoned the Sudanese Ambassador to the Foreign and Commonwealth Office to express our grave concerns at the use of all forms of violence against civilians and medical professionals, by the Sudanese authorities. This was reiterated in a most recent statement issued by the EU Foreign Affairs Council (FAC) on 17 June, which stated attacks against hospitals, medical staff and patients must stop, and that any obstacles to the timely delivery of humanitarian assistance needs to be removed immediately.I had set out the UK's position at the FAC that called for the human rights of all Sudanese people to be respected, and the resumption of the political process leading to an agreed peaceful transfer of power to a civilian-led government, as demanded by the Sudanese people.

Greece: West Nile Virus

Mr Jim Cunningham: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, what recent discussions he has had with his counterpart in Greece on the number of people infected with the West Nile virus in that country.

Sir Alan Duncan: There were reports of a number of cases of West Nile virus in Greece in 2018. The Hellenic Centre for Disease Prevention / Control have informed our Embassy in Athens that there have been no reported cases to date in 2019. Up to date information on outbreaks and preventative measures can be found by following the links on Foreign and Commonwealth Office Travel Advice.

Yemen: Politics and Government

Keith Vaz: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, what recent discussions he has had with his Yemeni counterpart on the resignation of the Minister of Foreign Affairs in that country.

Dr Andrew Murrison: We are aware of reports of Mr al-Yamani’s resignation from the position of Yemeni Foreign Minister. We will continue to work constructively with the Government of Yemen and urge their continued co-operation with Special Envoy Martin Griffiths and the UN peace process.

Yemen: Military Intervention

Keith Vaz: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, what discussions he has had with his Saudi counterpart on coalition airstrikes in Sana’a on Thursday 13 June.

Dr Andrew Murrison: We are concerned at reports of airstrikes in Sana’a on 13 June. This followed the Houthi attack on Abha airport on 12 June, on which we expressed our deep concern and urged parties to urge restraint and commit to the UN peace process. The UK continues to call on all parties to the conflict in Yemen to exercise restraint, comply fully with international humanitarian law and implement the Stockholm Agreement without delay to improve the humanitarian situation in Yemen.​

Hong Kong: Extradition

Mr Gregory Campbell: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs,  if he will make representations to his Chinese counterpart on the proposed Hong Kong extradition bill.

Dr Andrew Murrison: Under the 'One Country, Two Systems' model, the proposed amendments to Hong Kong's extradition legislation are a matter for the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region Government. However, the Chinese government is on record as supporting the extradition proposals.The UK regularly raises Hong Kong at all levels with China. The Prime Minister and Chancellor of the Exchequer both raised the situation there, and the importance of upholding the Joint Declaration, with Chinese Vice Premier Hu during the UK-China Economic and Financial Dialogue in London on 16 and 17 June.We will continue to emphasise to China the importance of upholding the Sino-British Joint Declaration, which is a legally binding international treaty.

Foreign and Commonwealth Office: CTF Partners

Deidre Brock: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, whether his (a) Department and (b) Department's agencies have entered into contracts with CTF Partners since 2015.

Sir Alan Duncan: The Foreign and Commonwealth Office (FCO) has not entered into any contracts with CTF Partners Ltd. Information relating to FCO Executive Agencies is not held centrally and therefore not readily available.

Lebanon: Refugees

Tommy Sheppard: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, pursuant to the Answer of 13 June to Question 262409, whether his Department has made any representations to the Government of Lebanon on the proposed destruction of Syrian refugees’ shelters in Arsal, Lebanon.

Dr Andrew Murrison: ​We have called on the Lebanese Government to ensure that any operation or actions that impact on the homes of refugees are done in full accordance with Lebanese laws and international principals, after thorough consultation with those affected, relevant Non Governmental Organisations, and the UN, and only once appropriate alternative accommodation has been put in place for those affected. Following lobbying from the international donor community, including this Government, and after negotiations with the United Nations Refugee Agency, UNHCR, and refugee communities, the Government of Lebanon has agreed to postpone the demolition operation in Arsal to 1 July, to allow refugees more time to comply with the order, or find alternative accommodation.

Mohammed Abdullah al-Shahi

Karen Lee: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, pursuant to the Answer of 14 June to Question 261149, what assessment the Government has made the accuracy of claims by Amnesty International that at least one member of the Shuhuh Six, Mohammed Abdullah al-Shahi, has been unjustly imprisoned.

Dr Andrew Murrison: As outlined in the answer to Question 261149 of 14 June, our Ambassador in Muscat raised the arrests with the Omani authorities on 27 May. We have received strong assurances from the Omani Government that the individuals arrested were prosecuted in accordance with Oman’s Penal Code and human rights commitments enshrined in Oman’s Basic Law (the Omani constitution). We continue to monitor developments in this case closely.

Hong Kong: Extradition

Fiona Bruce: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, what representations he has made to his EU counterparts on extradition arrangements of third party nationals from EU member states to mainland China.

Dr Andrew Murrison: UK officials have engaged with their EU counterparts on the proposed amendments to Hong Kong's extradition laws, in London, Hong Kong, and in European capitals. EU Heads of Mission in Hong Kong, including the British Consul General, also took part in a joint démarche on the Chief Executive on 24 May, to relay their concerns about the extradition proposals.We welcome the statement from the Chief Executive that she will not proceed with the Bill if the fears and anxieties of the people of Hong Kong cannot be addressed.

Yemen: Military Intervention

Lloyd Russell-Moyle: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, with reference to The Guardian report on 18 June 2019 on alleged UK military involvement in Yemen, whether the UK is a party to the conflict in Yemen.

Dr Andrew Murrison: The UK is not part of the coalition operating in Yemen and the UK has no role in setting coalition policy. Our assistance is limited to addressing the specific threats faced by the Saudis. We are providing information, advice and training to help Saudi Arabia respond to these threats. We have also shared techniques with the Saudis for minimising civilian casualties. The UK has a range of British personnel deployed across the region, but all remain under British command and control.

Northern Ireland Office

Military Bases: Northern Ireland

Mr Gregory Campbell: To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland, if she will make an assessment of the progress made in developing the former military bases handed over to Northern Ireland in 2003.

John Penrose: This is a devolved matter in Northern Ireland, and as such is the responsibility of the Executive Office. Information can be requested from the Head of the Civil Service in Northern Ireland.

Proceeds of Crime

Mr Gregory Campbell: To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland, if she will hold discussions with the Home Secretary and the Northern Ireland Department of Justice on the implementation of the devolved elements of the Criminal Finances Act 2017.

John Penrose: The Secretary of State speaks with the Home Secretary regularly on a range of security related matters however, this Government remains committed to the central principles of the Sewel convention. We will therefore not commence provisions on matters devolved to Northern Ireland without the appropriate consents having been obtained. In the absence of a Northern Ireland Executive and fully functioning Assembly, it is not possible to achieve this consent. The Secretary of State for Northern Ireland is working hard to achieve the objective we all want to see - the restoration of devolved government in Northern Ireland, where locally elected, democratically accountable politicians can take decisions that affect the people of Northern Ireland.

Historical Institutional Abuse Inquiry

Lady Hermon: To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland, if she will take steps to bring forward legislative proposals before the summer recess, to enact the recommendations of the Judge Hart's report entitled, Historical Institutional Abuse Inquiry; and if she will make a statement.

John Penrose: The Secretary of State for Northern Ireland is determined to do everything in her power to ensure that the victims and survivors of historical institutional abuse get the redress they deserve as quickly as possible. That is why she asked the Northern Ireland political parties to consider the outstanding policy questions identified in the public consultation process and is pleased they have come to an agreement on the best way forward. The Executive Office is now working with the Office of Legislative Council to redraft the legislation in light of the parties’ recommendations. Their recommendations deviate significantly from Sir Anthony Hart's recommendations. The Secretary of State also continues to engage with colleagues in Westminster on this vital issue.

Northern Ireland Assembly: Members

Lady Hermon: To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland, what assessment she has made of the potential merits of a future reduction in the salaries of the Members of the Legislative Assembly since the Assembly has not functioned since January 2017; and if she will make a statement.

Karen Bradley: Restoring devolved government in Northern Ireland at the earliest opportunity remains my top priority. However in the event of the continued delay in the formation of an Executive I have been clear that I will consider the case for further reductions to the salaries of the Members of the Legislative Assembly.

Department of Health and Social Care

MMR Vaccine

Emma Reynolds: To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, what assessment he has made of the correlation between falling rates of vaccination for measles, mumps and rubella and the increased incidence of those conditions.

Seema Kennedy: Holding answer received on 18 June 2019



There has been an increase in cases of measles since the end of 2017 with close to 1,000 cases reported in 2018. However, the majority of these cases (628/966, 65%) are in individuals aged less than one year old and over 15 years i.e. those not in recently vaccinated age cohorts. Data is available at the following link:https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/measles-mumps-and-rubella-laboratory-confirmed-cases-in-england-2018An increase in mumps activity was observed in England in the first quarter (Q1) of 2019 with 795 laboratory confirmed mumps infections. Almost half (352/795, 44%) of the cases in Q1 were in unvaccinated individuals. This data can be viewed at the following link:https://assets.publishing.service.gov.uk/government/uploads/system/uploads/attachment_data/file/804024/hpr1819_mmr2.pdfThe World Health Organization confirmed that the United Kingdom had eliminated rubella in 2015. Between 2013-18 there were only 10 laboratory confirmed cases in England. This data can be viewed at the following link:https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/rubella-confirmed-cases/rubella-notifications-and-confirmed-cases-by-oral-fluid-testing-in-england-2013-to-2014-by-quarterNearly all these cases have been in individuals born abroad and were not eligible to receive rubella containing vaccine in United Kingdom.

General Practitioners

Keith Vaz: To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, what the priorities are for the NHS Primary Care Network.

Seema Kennedy: The priority for the Primary Care Network (PCN) overall will be to ensure that it builds on the core of current primary care services by enabling greater provision of proactive, personalised, coordinated and more integrated health and social care. PCNs will take part in the Network Contract Directed Enhanced Service from July 2019. This provides funding for additional capacity in general practice, extended access and clinical leadership. The priorities for individual PCNs will be determined locally by their Clinical Director and leadership team, in close conjunction with their local authority and clinical commissioning group. These priorities must be within the context of the seven service specifications that are being published and which will set out what all networks have to deliver. The seven are focused on areas where PCNs can have significant impact against the ‘triple aim’ of improving health and saving lives, for example from strokes, heart attacks and cancer; improving the quality of care for people with multiple morbidities; and helping to make the National Health Service more sustainable, for example, by helping to reduce avoidable hospital admissions.The specifications cover the following topics: - Structured medications review and optimisation;- Enhanced health in care homes, to implement the vanguard model;- Anticipatory care requirements for high need patients typically experiencing several long-term conditions, joint with community services;- Personalised Care, to implement the NHS Comprehensive Model;- Supporting early cancer diagnosis;- Cardiovascular Disease (CVD) prevention and diagnosis; and- Tackling neighbourhood inequalities. The framework can be viewed at the following link:https://www.england.nhs.uk/wp-content/uploads/2019/01/gp-contract-2019.pdf

General Practitioners: Leicester

Keith Vaz: To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, which organisation will provide Primary Care Network services for GP practices in Leicester.

Seema Kennedy: General practitioner (GP) practices within Leicester have been working together over the last few months to develop their proposed Primary Care Network (PCN) footprints. Initial proposals were discussed by Leicester City Clinical Commissioning Group’s management and lay member group and GP Reference Group in April 2019. A list of proposed PCNs and their member practices was published in May and is available at the following link:https://3xmatc1p0cnc3crfv93ovogp-wpengine.netdna-ssl.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/05/Paper-AOB-update-on-Primary-Care-Networks.pdfPCNs will be formally established for 1 July.

Obesity: Children

Keith Vaz: To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, what the timeframe is for the publication of the report by Professor Dame Sally Davies on a potential tax on unhealthy food to tackle childhood obesity.

Seema Kennedy: The Chief Medical Officer’s review of potential actions to help meet our ambition of halving childhood obesity by 2030 is due for publication in September.

Mortality Rates

Andrea Jenkyns: To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, what steps his Department is taking to reduce the level of mortality experienced by (a) BAME people, (b) people with mental health conditions and (c) people with learning difficulties.

Jackie Doyle-Price: The NHS Long Term Plan sets out clearly the need to reduce inequalities in health that different groups of the population currently face.The NHS Long Term Plan will give 370,000 adults and older adults with severe mental illness greater choice and control over their care through new models of integrated primary and community mental health care.In addition, the first ever cross-Government suicide prevention workplan sets out an ambitious programme for every local authority, every National Health Service trust and every prison will have a plan in place to prevent suicide. We will invest up to £600,000 to support local authorities to strengthen their suicide prevention plans and implement the recommendations identified by the independent evaluation of local plans.The learning disabilities health check scheme is designed to encourage general practices to identify patients aged 14 and over with learning disabilities, to maintain a learning disabilities 'health check' register and offer individuals an annual health check, which will include producing a health action plan. Such checks are intended to ensure that any undetected health conditions are identified earlier and that on-going treatment and care is appropriate to the individual’s needs. The NHS Long Term Plan commits to improve uptake of the scheme so that at least 75% of those eligible have a health check each year.In addition, the Learning Disabilities Mortality Review Programme supports local areas to review the deaths of people with learning disabilities and to use the information to build up a detailed picture of key improvements needed, both locally and at a national level, to reduce the inequality in life expectancy between people with a learning disability, and those without. The learning from the programme is being used to inform programmes of work to address key mortality issues such as sepsis, constipation, and cancer.Regarding black, Asian and minority ethnic (BAME) groups, the Long Term Plan also highlights improvements to continuity of midwifery care for women from the BAME community; improving the Diabetes Prevention Programme; and improving bowel screening rates for people from minority ethnic groups. In addition to these, BAME communities will benefit from the wide range of programmes set out in the Long Term Plan.

Prostate Cancer: Diagnosis

Sir George Howarth: To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, how many people with suspected prostate cancer undergo (a) a transrectal ultrasound guided biopsy and (b) a template transperineal biopsy, who have a prostate-specific antigen level of (i) less than 10ng/ml and (ii) more than 10ng/ml in the most recent year for which data is available.

Sir George Howarth: To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, what the unit costs were of a (a) transrectal ultrasound guided biopsy, (b) transperineal template biopsy and (c) multi-parametric MRI scan for an individual with suspected prostate cancer in the most recent year for which data is available; and what is included in the calculation of the unit cost.

Sir George Howarth: To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, how many people were diagnosed with clinically significant prostate cancer following a (a) transrectal ultrasound guided biopsy and (b) transperineal template biopsy in the most recent year for which data is available.

Seema Kennedy: The information requested is not held centrally.

Prostate Cancer

Sir George Howarth: To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, what estimate he has made of the number of people with suspected prostate cancer and their prostate-specific antigen score in the most recent year for which data is available.

Seema Kennedy: This information is not available in the format requested.

Public Health: Finance

Neil Coyle: To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, what plans he has to increase public health funding for local authorities.

Seema Kennedy: Future funding for local authorities’ public health responsibilities will be considered carefully in the next spending review, taking full account of the available evidence.

Healthy Start Scheme: Publicity

Mrs Madeleine Moon: To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, if he will allocate funding for (a) local promotion and (b) outreach programmes to increase the number of people claiming healthy start vouchers.

Jackie Doyle-Price: We are developing a digital approach to Healthy Start, which should make it easier for families to apply for, receive and use Healthy Start benefits. As part of the digitisation process, we are working with a number of local areas to consider how to encourage people to claim Healthy Start.

Healthy Start Scheme

Mrs Madeleine Moon: To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, what estimate he has made of the proportion of people in receipt of Healthy Start vouchers.

Jackie Doyle-Price: Between 29 April and 26 May 2019, 54% of people eligible to make an application for Healthy Start vouchers had made an application and been accepted onto the scheme.

Eating Disorders

Mr Jim Cunningham: To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, what assessment his Department has made of the adequacy of training for doctors on treatment for eating disorders.

Jackie Doyle-Price: Diagnosing and treating eating disorders is an important area of medical practice. It is included within the curriculum for training all doctors, including for general practitioners, and in more depth within training for psychiatry, particularly child and adolescent psychiatrists.The Public Administration and Constitutional Affairs Committee’s report following up the Parliamentary and Health Service Ombudsman’s report, ‘Ignoring the alarms: How NHS eating disorder services are failing patients’, published on 18 June, made recommendations on the education and training of doctors in treating patients with eating disorders. The Government will consider these recommendations with Health Education England, the General Medical Council and the Academy of Medical Royal Colleges and will respond to the Committee’s report in due course.

Eating Disorders

Mr Jim Cunningham: To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, what steps he is taking to ensure access to a NHS eating disorder specialist for all those that need such treatment.

Jackie Doyle-Price: Improving access to eating disorder support is a key priority for this Government and we are committed to ensuring that everyone with an eating disorder is able to access the appropriate specialist care when they need to.The earlier treatment is provided, the greater the chance of recovery. It is therefore vital that everyone with an eating disorder can access quick, specialist help when necessary. We have set up the first waiting times standard to improve access to eating disorder services for children and young people with the aim that 95% of children with an eating disorder will receive treatment within one week for urgent cases and within four weeks for routine cases by 2020/21.The NHS Long Term Plan commits to testing four-week waiting times for adult and older adult community mental health teams, in selected local areas. The exact scope and timelines of these pilots are yet to be finalised.

Hospices: Children

Stephen Timms: To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, what recent assessment he has made of the financial sustainability of children’s hospices.

Caroline Dinenage: No recent assessment has been made. The vast majority of hospices were established from charitable and philanthropic donations and are therefore primarily charity-funded and independently run. However, they receive some statutory funding from clinical commissioning groups (CCGs) and the Government for providing local services. The amount of funding is a local matter. On average, adult hospices received approximately 30% of their overall funding from National Health Service sources. Proportionally less public funding is received by children’s hospices than adult hospices, and this amounts to around 15%, and this is largely due to differences in their development and non-clinical care they provide. To compensate for the lower levels of statutory funding children’s hospices receive, NHS England manages the Children’s Hospice Grant, which is awarded and administered annually. The Children’s Hospice Grant will provide a contribution of £12 million in 2019/20. As set out in the NHS Long Term Plan, NHS England committed to increase its contribution to children’s palliative care over the next five years by match funding CCGs who commit to increase their investment in local children’s palliative and end of life care services including children’s hospices. Subject to CCGs increasing investment, NHS England will match this by up to £7 million a year by 2023/24. This increase is in addition to the Children’s Hospice Grant. We would expect hospices to be significant beneficiaries of the additional funding, and in many areas, children’s hospices are the main providers of children’s palliative and end of life care services.

Mental Health Services: Children

Tim Loughton: To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, whether Care Commissioning Groups have responsibility for commissioning mental health services for children aged zero to two; and what steps his Department are taking to ensure that those groups secure that provision.

Jackie Doyle-Price: Clinical commissioning groups (CCGs) are responsible for commissioning non-specialised mental health services for all age groups in their local populations.The Government continues to ensure that the National Health Service invests more in mental health both through significant central investments as part of the NHS Long Term Plan and through the Mental Health Investment Standard (MHIS). This standard requires CCGs to increase investment in mental health services in line with overall increase in funding. In 2018/19, it is expected all CCGs will achieve the MHIS level of investment.

Mental Health Services: Children

Tim Loughton: To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, which Minister in his Department has responsibility for the provision of mental health services for children aged zero to two; and what (a) data and (b) information is supplied to that Minister on the provision of those services.

Jackie Doyle-Price: I have Ministerial responsibility for the provision of mental health services. A wide range of data and information is regularly provided to support the work in this role, such as the Mental Health Five Year Forward View dashboard which brings together key data from across mental health services to measure the performance of the National Health Service in delivering our plans.It includes data on the number of admissions in child and adolescent mental health service wards for patients aged 0-17 who are referred for treatment for example. An age breakdown is available for those aged 0-5 from in each Mental Health Services Data Set annual report. This data can only be provided at an aggregate level and not specifically for children aged 0-2.

Mental Health Services: Children and Young People

Tim Loughton: To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, with reference to the NHS Long-Term Plan, what progress his Department has made ensuring that 100 per cent of children and young people that require specialist mental health can access those services over the coming decade.

Tim Loughton: To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, with reference to the NHS Long-Term Plan, how his Department plans to monitor progress on the target to ensure that over the coming decade, 100 per cent of children and young people that  need specialist mental health services are able to access those services.

Jackie Doyle-Price: The NHS Long Term Plan sets out how the National Health Service intends to improve services that support children and young people including those who require specialist mental health services. Progress for children and young people’s mental health services is monitored against key measurables such as access and waiting times standards.From our Green Paper, ‘Transforming children and young people’s mental health provision: a green paper’ we have now launched the first 25 trailblazer sites in England that will provide Mental Health Support Teams, as part of a new school-based service for those with mild to moderate mental health issues.Twelve of the sites will pilot a four-week waiting time to speed up children and young people’s access to NHS mental health services. In addition, the Department for Education will fund a significant new training programme for Designated Senior Leads for mental health in schools and colleges.The National Implementation Framework for the NHS Long Term Plan, when published, will provide further information on how the commitments set out for children and young people’s mental health in the Plan will be implemented and monitored.

Preventive Medicine: Babies

Tim Loughton: To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, what plans he has to include proposals for improved provision of support for parent-infant relationships in the forthcoming Prevention Green Paper.

Seema Kennedy: We are considering a range of policy options for the Prevention Green Paper and will be mindful of support for parent-infant relationships.

Thalidomide

Lisa Nandy: To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, what plans his Department has to renew the health grant scheme for thalidomide survivors beyond 2022-23.

Caroline Dinenage: The future of budgets outside of the NHS England resource settlement will be confirmed later this year at Spending Review 2019, and as part of that process, we will be considering how thalidomiders can be best supported in future.

NHS: Legal Costs

Norman Lamb: To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, pursuant to the Answer of 17 June 2019 to Question 263752 on NHS: Legal Costs, how much was money was spent by (a) NHS England, (b) NHS trusts, (c) Health Education England and (d) NHS Improvement on the services of (a) Bevan Brittan, (b) Mills & Reeve, (c) DAC Beechcroft, (d) Hempsons, (e) Capsticks and (f) Hill Dickinson in relation to employment disputes in each of the last five years.

Caroline Dinenage: The arm’s length bodies concerned do not collect information in the format requested. The transactions charged by the organisations involved do not specifically itemise legal costs as ‘employment disputes’.

Royal Liverpool Hospital

Dame Louise Ellman: To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, if he will conduct an investigation on the delays in the completion of the new Royal Liverpool University Hospital; and will he make a statement.

Stephen Hammond: Following the collapse of Carillion, the Government agreed to support both the Royal Liverpool and Broadgreen University Hospital Trust’s decision to end its private finance initiative deal, and also the Trust’s activities to arrange for the completion of the construction of the new hospital.The Trust is currently working closely with the replacement contractor Laing O’Rourke and external advisers in undertaking a fully costed assessment of all the works needed to complete the new Royal Liverpool hospital. This assessment will be set out in a business case, which the trust intends to submit to NHS Improvement and the Department for approval soon. In the meantime, preparation work is already underway by Laing O’Rourke.NHS Improvement and the Department are liaising closely with the trust to ensure that the hospital is completed as soon as is possible.

Hospices: Expenditure

Mr Laurence Robertson: To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, what funding was allocated from the public purse to (a) children's and (b) other hospices in each of the last five years for which figures are available.

Caroline Dinenage: Children’s hospices receive some statutory funding from clinical commissioning groups (CCGs) and the Government for providing local services. The amount of funding is locally determined, and NHS England does not centrally collect data on this.Children’s hospices receive around 15% from National Health Service sources. NHS England manages the Children’s Hospice Grant, which is awarded and administered annually. The grant is a contribution towards the operating costs of the hospices, not core funding for NHS services, for which the statutory responsibility resides with local commissioners.The following table shows the amount awarded under the Children’s Hospice Grant in the past five years. YearGrant amount awarded2015/16£11,000,000.002016/17£11,000,000.002017/18£11,000,000.002018/19£11,000,000.002019/20£12,000,000,00   As set out in the NHS Long Term Plan, NHS England committed to increase its contribution to children’s palliative care over the next five years by match funding CCGs who commit to increase their investment in local children’s palliative and end of life care services; including children’s hospices. Subject to CCGs increasing investment, NHS England will match this by up to £7 million a year by 2023/24. This increase is in addition to the Children’s Hospice Grant, which provides an annual baseline contribution of £11 million. NHS England estimates that full match funding should more than double the additional NHS support from £11 million to a combined total of £25 million a year by 2023/24. NHS England is currently establishing financial reporting systems to monitor the baseline investment of CCGs in children’s palliative and end of life care services. This will enable match funding payments to be made to CCGs where the investments are increased above the investment baseline in the previous year. As baselining will be ongoing through 2019/20, and therefore match funding will not be available in this year, NHS England will be increasing the children’s hospice grant to £12 million for this period. Regarding adult hospices, these receive approximately 30% of their overall funding from NHS sources.

Bereavement Counselling

Mr Laurence Robertson: To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, what steps he is taking to increase the services available to people to help them cope with bereavement; and if he will make a statement.

Jackie Doyle-Price: Bereavement services are provided in a number of ways across the National Health Service, social care and the voluntary sector.Clinical commissioning groups commission and enable access to bereavement services locally as part of high quality, compassionate and person-centred care. For instance, anyone who feels that they need support following the death of someone they know, can either self-refer, or be referred, to an Improving Access to Psychological Therapies service for a clinical assessment of their needs. If appropriate, treatment should be offered in line with National Institute for Health and Care Excellence guidance.To support commissioners, the Government is working with NHS England and the voluntary sector to identify exemplar bereavement care pathways.

Mental Health and Suicide: Children

Chris Ruane: To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, what assessment he has made trends in (a) depression, (b) suicidal ideation and (c) self-harm amongst (i) adolescent males and (ii) adolescent females since 2010.

Jackie Doyle-Price: The Department assess a wide range of research into trends around depression, self-harm and suicide to inform evidence-based policy development. NHS Digital has published the report, ‘Mental Health of Children and Young People in England, 2017’, which covers prevalence and trends in mental disorders in young people. The report is available at the following link:www.digital.nhs.uk/data-and-information/publications/statistical/mental-health-of-children-and-young-people-in-england/2017/2017The Department commissions the Office for National Statistics to monitor and publish data on suicide trends across all age groups. Published data shows that suicides amongst 15-19 year-olds have been increasing in recent years. The latest data is published at the following link:www.ons.gov.uk/peoplepopulationandcommunity/birthsdeathsandmarriages/deaths/bulletins/suicidesintheunitedkingdom/2017registrationsThe Department also funds the Multi-Centre Study of Self-Harm, which analyses long-term trends in people presenting at hospital for self-harm. We are aware of research showing increases in attendances at hospital and in primary care for self-harm, especially in young women and girls.

Social Services: Disability

Diana Johnson: To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, what steps his Department is taking to ensure the adequacy of long-term adult social care funding settlements for the care and support needs of working age disabled people.

Caroline Dinenage: Social care funding for future years will be settled in the Spending Review, where the overall approach to funding local government will be considered in the round.The Government is also undertaking a review of the relative needs and resources of local authorities in England, with a view to setting fresh baseline funding levels. The recent consultation on this proposed a specific formula for adult social care that includes cost drivers for both older people and working age adults.We need a sustainable social care system to ensure services continue to deliver for our ageing population and the increasing number of people of working age who require care services.This Government is committed to ensuring that the social care system is sustainable in the longer term, which is why we will be publishing a Green Paper at the earliest opportunity, setting out our proposals for reform. We want to make sure that we get it right, which is why we are taking the time to consult with key stakeholders and take their feedback into consideration.

Arthritis: Health Services

Hilary Benn: To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, what assessment he has made of the adequacy of the provision of NHS services for people with rheumatoid arthritis.

Seema Kennedy: The commissioning and configuration of rheumatoid arthritis services in England is a local matter. The local National Health Service is best placed to make decisions that ensure services meet the needs of resident populations in the most appropriate way. Service should be planned and delivered in line with the best available evidence, such as National Institute for Health and Care Excellence guidance.Regarding assessment, in May 2018, a new three-year Rheumatoid and Early Inflammatory Arthritis Audit was commissioned by the Healthcare Quality Improvement Partnership. More information can be found at the following link:www.rheumatology.org.uk/Knowledge/Excellence/AuditsThe findings of the Audit are due to be published in October 2019. However, previous Audit reports can be found at the following link:www.hqip.org.uk/national-programmes/a-z-of-nca/arthritis-rheumatoid-and-early-inflammatory

Heart Diseases: Death

Mr Kevan Jones: To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, whether his Department has made an estimate of the number of 14-year-olds today that will die from a sudden cardiac death before they reach their 36th birthday.

Seema Kennedy: The information is not available in the requested format. The chances of sudden heart attacks in apparently physically fit young people are extremely small. The overwhelming majority of heart attacks happen in elderly people.In June 2019 the United Kingdom National Screening Committee (UK NSC) published an evidence summary consultation document in relation to its review of the evidence for screening for the risk of sudden cardiac death in young people (12-39). The review process began in February 2019 and is estimated to be completed by December 2019. The UK NSC welcomes comments and feedback on the evidence review during the consultation period that lasts from 7 June to 7 September 2019. The UK NSC is an independent committee that advises Ministers and the National Health Service in all four UK countries on all aspects of screening and supports implementation of screening programmes. Conditions are reviewed against evidence review criteria according to the UK NSC’s evidence review process.

Asthma: Prescriptions

Mr Gavin Shuker: To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, what assessment he has made of the potential public health benefits of including asthma as a medical exemption from prescription charges.

Seema Kennedy: The Department has made no assessment. Extensive arrangements are already in place to help people access National Health Service prescriptions. These include a broad range of NHS prescription charge exemptions for which someone with asthma may qualify.To support those with the greatest need who do not qualify for an exemption, the cost of the prescription pre-payment certificates has been frozen for another year. A holder of a 12-month certificate can get all the prescriptions they need for just £2 per week.

Eating Disorders

Mr Gavin Shuker: To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, what steps he is taking to ensure the adequacy of funding for the provision of  NHS early intervention services for adult sufferers of eating disorders.

Jackie Doyle-Price: It is vital that everyone with an eating disorder can access quick, specialist help when necessary. The Government set up the first ever waiting time targets to improve access to eating disorder services for children and young people, supported by £30 million a year to develop 70 new or extended community eating disorder services across the country.We are making good progress towards the children and young people’s eating disorder waiting time target, with January to March 2019 data showing 80.6% of young people started treatment for an urgent case within one week and 82.4% of young people started treatment for a routine case within four weeks against a target of 95% by 2020/21.The NHS Long Term Plan committed at least a further £2.3 billion a year to mental health services by 2023/24. This investment will transform and expand services for people with mental health conditions, including eating disorders, building on our current targets.The Long Term Plan also commits to investing in the development of services for adults with mental health conditions including eating disorders and testing four-week waiting times for adults and older adults’ community mental health teams with selected local areas.

Eating Disorders

Mr Gavin Shuker: To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, what additional funding his Department plans to allocate to the NHS to ensure the commencement of the  NHS pilot of a four-week waiting time target for adult eating disorder treatment.

Jackie Doyle-Price: The NHS Long Term Plan committed at least a further £2.3 billion a year to mental health services by 2023/24. This investment will transform and expand services for people with mental health conditions, including eating disorders, building on our current targets.Within the NHS Long Term Plan ambitions, the Clinical Review of NHS Access Standards aims to “test four-week waiting times for adult and older adult community mental health teams, with selected local areas”. The waiting times pilot will be funded from the additional commitment made in the NHS Long Term Plan. More information will be available when the National Implementation Plan is published.

Chronic Fatigue Syndrome

Stephen Morgan: To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, what assessment he has made of the effectiveness of the existing NICE guideline on myalgic encephalomyelitis.

Seema Kennedy: No specific assessment has been made. The National Institute for Health and Care Excellence (NICE) is the independent body responsible for developing evidence-based guidance for the National Health Service to support clinicians and commissioners to plan and deliver services. Clinical guidelines are developed by expert groups that include stakeholder and patient representation. Prior to final publication, they are subject to public consultation and, once published, are routinely reviewed to ensure the guidance reflects the latest available evidence.In 2007, NICE published the clinical guideline, ‘Chronic fatigue syndrome/myalgic encephalomyelitis (or encephalopathy): Diagnosis and management of CFS/ME in adults and children’. This set out best practice in the diagnosis, treatment, care support of people with the condition.On 20 September 2017, NICE announced its decision to undertake a full update of the guideline following a review of the latest available evidence on the diagnosis and management of chronic fatigue syndrome/myalgic encephalomyelitis and a public consultation. New guidance is expected in October 2020. More information on this update can be found at the following link: www.nice.org.uk/guidance/indevelopment/gid-ng10091

Antibiotics: Drug Resistance

Mr Virendra Sharma: To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, if he will have discussions with NHS England on making tackling Carbapenemase Producing Enterobacteriaceae/Carbapenemase Producing Organism infections a priority in relation to the management and control of healthcare associated infections.

Mr Virendra Sharma: To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, what steps he is taking with NHS England to tackle the threat of Carbapenemase Producing Enterobacteriaceae/Carbapenemase Producing Organism.

Seema Kennedy: The United Kingdom’s five-year national action plan for Antimicrobial Resistance (AMR), published 24 January 2019, includes a strengthened focus on infection prevention and control, renewing our commitment to halve levels of healthcare associated Gram-negative blood stream infections by 2023-24. The plan also sets a world-first target to reduce the actual numbers of resistant infections, with the aim to reduce them by 10% by 2025.We will achieve our ambitions by adopting a systematic approach to preventing infections, enhancing surveillance and adding Carbapenem resistant Gram-negative infections to the list of notifiable diseases. There will also be enhanced roles for Directors of Infection Prevention and Control, a review of workforce needs and targeted interventions around hand hygiene.The NHS Long Term Plan makes the commitment to implement the human health aspects of the UK AMR national action plan. The Department is establishing a UK AMR national action plan delivery board which will drive and oversee delivery of this work.

Eating Disorders: Mental Health Services

Peter Kyle: To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, pursuant to the Answer of 25 March 2019 to Question 233558 on Eating Disorders, what the timetable is for his Department to begin piloting the four-week waiting time target for adults and older adult community mental health teams.

Jackie Doyle-Price: NHS England has advised that the waiting time commitments made in the NHS Long Term Plan will form part of the overall testing of new models of primary and community mental health care in 2019/20 and 2020/22.

Prescriptions: Fees and Charges

Grahame Morris: To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, how many prescription penalty charge notices have been successfully appealed in each of the last five years.

Seema Kennedy: The information requested is not held centrally.

Mental Health

Chris Ruane: To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, what assessment he has made of the effect of mental wellbeing on the propensity to develop physical illness.

Jackie Doyle-Price: People living with severe mental illness (SMI) are at greater risk of physical illness and face one of the greatest inequality gaps in England with life expectancy 15-20 years lower than the general population.To help address this disparity in health outcomes, in 2016, in the Five Year Forward View for Mental Health, NHS England committed to leading work to ensure that by 2020/21, 280,000 people living with SMI have their physical health needs met by increasing early detection and expanding access to evidence-based physical care assessment and intervention each year.In the NHS Long Term Plan, NHS England committed to building on this ambition. By 2023/24, the number of people receiving physical health checks will further increase to an additional 110,000 people per year, bringing the total to 390,000 checks delivered each year.

Antidepressants

Chris Ruane: To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, what estimate he has made of the proportion of patients prescribed antidepressants who do not take that medication for the prescribed length of time.

Seema Kennedy: The Department has made no such estimate. The Government expects clinicians to prescribe anti-depressants responsibly and to follow the National Institute for Health and Care Excellence guidelines on shared decision making when discussing care and treatment options with their patients.

Pain: Medical Treatments

Chris Ruane: To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, what assessment he has made of the potential merits of prescribing mindfulness-based pain management in treating chronic pain.

Seema Kennedy: No specific assessment has been made. However, self-management approaches, such as mindfulness, may be appropriate for helping people manage the day to day symptoms of living with a long-term condition, such as chronic pain.The National Institute for Health and Care Excellence is in the process of developing the ‘Chronic Pain: assessment and management’ guideline, which is expected for publication on 19 August 2020. The guideline is looking at range of approaches relevant to the management of chronic pain, including pain self-management programmes and peer-led programmes. The guideline scope document can be found at the following link:www.nice.org.uk/guidance/gid-ng10069/documents/final-scope

Department for International Development

Sudan: Third Sector

Mr Barry Sheerman: To ask the Secretary of State for International Development, what assessment his Department has made of the needs of civil society in Sudan; and what support his Department plans to provide to those groups.

Harriett Baldwin: DFID recognises the essential role of Sudanese civil society in securing a transition to a stable political system that is inclusive, respects democratic norms and allows open and ongoing political dialogue. Until the end of 2018, the Local Partnerships for Dialogue Programme provided support to civil society, media, and women and youth groups, with the aim of strengthening their capacity to demand more inclusive, democratic and accountable governance. DFID has resources within its current framework to continue the UK’s support of Sudanese non-state actors, and their important participation in the transition. This could take the form of support to the handover to a civilian-led government, through technical assistance to negotiation and mediation efforts; and further capacity building for civil society organisations to build their resilience and capacity to champion inclusive dialogue.

Ethiopia: Dams

Liz McInnes: To ask the Secretary of State for International Development, what recent assessment he has made of the potential effect of state development plans on indigenous populations in the lower Omo valley in Ethiopia.

Harriett Baldwin: We are aware of concerns raised about the impacts of development projects on the Omo people in southern Ethiopia. The UK makes regular assessments of the development context in Ethiopia. We are currently funding research which considers the impact of development on income inequality, conflict, and the environment in South Omo. The research is currently being finalised.

Democratic Republic of Congo: Ebola

Liz McInnes: To ask the Secretary of State for International Development, what recent assessment he has made of the level of risk of Ebola outbreak in the Democratic Republic of Congo spreading to other countries in Africa.

Harriett Baldwin: On 11 June, the first cross-border cases of Ebola since this outbreak began in August 2018 were confirmed in Uganda. Although these were quickly contained, the risk of further spread to countries neighbouring eastern DRC remains high. This is why the UK has been the leading donor to regional preparedness efforts, helping support a range of activities, including the construction of screening facilities at border crossings and the vaccination of health workers.

Developing Countries: Vaccination

Mr Jim Cunningham: To ask the Secretary of State for International Development, what comparative assessment he has made of the levels of take up of vaccinations internationally.

Dr Andrew Murrison: The UK believes all children should have access to lifesaving vaccines and is committed to supporting vaccination uptake internationally through our investment in Gavi, the Vaccine Alliance. In 2017 alone, 65 million children in the world’s poorest countries were immunised through Gavi support. Immunisation coverage is the best way to measure vaccine uptake. Gavi monitor this at international, national and local levels. This provides an accurate picture of population immunity levels crucial to preventing deadly disease outbreaks. Through UK support to Gavi, immunisation coverage has increased substantially across the world’s poorest countries from a baseline of 66% in 2000 to 80% in 2017. This coverage is now on par with the global average of 85%. Despite the increased coverage, the UK remains concerned about reports of anti-vaccination campaigns and vaccine hesitancy. This has the potential to undermine hard-fought gains in protecting children from vaccine preventable diseases. Gavi recognises this and works through civil society and local community groups to address community concerns or fears and ensure that there is strong trust in vaccines. The UK will support efforts to improve vaccine uptake internationally by ensuring Gavi’s future strategy focuses on increasing access to vaccines for the world’s most marginalised children and continues to work at local levels with civil society groups to address local concerns and counter false claims and misinformation. The UK’s hosting of Gavi’s Pledging Conference next year will also demonstrate this continued commitment.

Developing Countries: Education

Mr Tanmanjeet Singh Dhesi: To ask the Secretary of State for International Development, what recent steps his Department has taken to improve access to education in developing countries.

Harriett Baldwin: Access to education is a fundamental right for every child. In recent months, DFID has announced three initiatives which demonstrate the UK’s continuing commitment to improving access to education in developing countries.a) The Inclusive Education Initiative to support marginalised children, particularly those with disabilities, who find it the hardest to attend school.b) In Nigeria, the Partnership for Learning for All programme, which will benefit up to 2 million children through improved teaching, school quality and education delivery.c) The global Education Technology Hub, which is researching solutions that work in low-income settings to increase access to learning materials and help improve how children learn.

Department for Education

Bright Tribe Multi-academy Trust

Angela Rayner: To ask the Secretary of State for Education, pursuant to the Answer of 11 June 2019 to Question 261234 on Bright Tribe Multi-academy Trust, which board meetings his Department holds minutes of; and whether those minutes are unredacted.

Nadhim Zahawi: Holding answer received on 21 June 2019



Academy trusts, such as Bright Tribe, may share redacted or unredacted minutes. As the creators of these documents, these are their documents to make available on request. Where they are requested to make them available, a trust can redact confidential information in line with their Articles of Association.The Education and Skills Funding Agency is working closely with Bright Tribe Trust and investigations are ongoing.

Nurseries: Carbon Monoxide

Alex Cunningham: To ask the Secretary of State for Education, what steps his Department is taking to encourage nurseries and childminders to install carbon monoxide alarms in their premises; and if he will make a statement.

Nadhim Zahawi: All providers on the Early Years Register in England must comply with the safeguarding and welfare requirements set out in the early years foundation stage (EYFS) statutory framework. Providers must ensure that their premises are fit for purpose and comply with the requirements of health and safety legislation.Ofsted refer to the EYFS statutory framework when carrying out inspections and may issue a welfare requirement notice in respect of any failure to meet a requirement in the document. It is an offence if a provider fails to comply with a welfare requirement notice.

Academies

Siobhain McDonagh: To ask the Secretary of State for Education, pursuant to the Answer of 12 June 2019 to Question 259839 on Academies, how many of the 2,631 academies and free schools who do not have a sponsor were formerly sponsored.

Nadhim Zahawi: Of the 2,631 academies and free schools who do not currently have a sponsor, 14 are sponsored academies that are no longer linked to a sponsor. This can be for a variety of reasons, ranging from an improved Ofsted Inspection Outcome to a Diocesan request for links to be removed.A list of these open academies is available via the link below:https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/open-academies-and-academy-projects-in-development.

Pre-school Education: Finance

Caroline Lucas: To ask the Secretary of State for Education, what estimate he has made of the number of maintained nursery schools that rely on the supplementary transitional protection funding for 2019-20 to stay open; and if he will make it his policy to continue that funding beyond 2020.

Caroline Lucas: To ask the Secretary of State for Education, what steps he is taking to ensure maintained nursery schools are adequately funded to (a) provide high-quality early years education in England and (b) remain open beyond 2020.

Nadhim Zahawi: Maintained nursery schools (MNS) make a valuable contribution to improving the lives of some of our most disadvantaged children. We are providing local authorities with around £60 million a year of supplementary funding, to enable them to maintain the funding that was provided to MNS in 2016/17. The funding of individual MNS is a matter for local authorities. No estimate has been made of the number of MNS that rely on the supplementary funding they receive in order to stay open. In February, we announced that we would provide local authorities with further funding of around £24 million to enable them to maintain the funding of MNS for the whole of the 2019/20. This provides MNS with further stability, and what happens after 2019/20 will be determined by the next Spending Review.

Pre-school Education: Finance

Caroline Lucas: To ask the Secretary of State for Education, if he will make it his policy to conduct an annual review of early years childcare funding to assess the funding needs and pressures in the early years sector to ensure sustainability and quality of provision; and if he will make a statement.

Nadhim Zahawi: The department plans to spend £3.5 billion on early education entitlements this year alone.Our average funding rates are based on the department’s review of childcare costs - this report can be found at the following link: https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/review-of-childcare-costs. This report was described as “thorough and wide ranging” by the National Audit Office. This review looked at both current and future cost pressures. We continue to monitor the early years childcare market closely through a range of regular and one-off research projects which provide insight into various aspects of the market. Decisions on funding policy and future spending will be a matter for the upcoming Spending Review.

Members: Correspondence

Matthew Pennycook: To ask the Secretary of State for Education, when he plans to respond to the letter from the hon. Member for Greenwich and Woolwich of 7 March 2019 on the effect of public sector pensions schemes on Ravensbourne University London.

Chris Skidmore: I responded to the hon. Member for Greenwich and Woolwich, Matthew Pennycook, on 19 June.

Assessments: Fraud

Layla Moran: To ask the Secretary of State for Education, what steps (a) his Department and (b) Ofqual are taking to reduce the risk of exam papers being leaked online.

Nick Gibb: Exam security is a matter for Ofqual, the Office of Qualifications and Examinations Regulation. I have asked its Chief Regulator, Sally Collier, to write directly to the hon. Member and a copy of her reply will be placed in the Libraries of both Houses.

Assessments: Fraud

Layla Moran: To ask the Secretary of State for Education, what (a) sanctions and (b) penalties his Department can issue to people that leak exam papers online.

Nick Gibb: The Department is not generally responsible for issuing sanctions to those involved in exam malpractice, which will be a decision for the individual exam board following guidance from the Joint Council for Qualifications, a membership body representing the main GCSE and A level exam boards. Where there is an indication of criminal activity the boards will involve the police.An exception to this is when the individual involved in the breach of security is a teacher. In this case, the Teaching Regulation Agency (TRA), on behalf of my right hon. Friend, the Secretary of State for Education, may investigate allegations of serious misconduct that are referred to it, and can decide to prohibit the individual from carrying out teaching work. Prohibition from teaching has a lifetime effect, but in some circumstances an application to have the prohibition set aside may be allowed after a specified period of time of no less than two years. Where a school dismisses a teacher for serious misconduct, or may have referred had the teacher not resigned, they have a duty to consider referring the matter to the TRA.

Pearson Education

Layla Moran: To ask the Secretary of State for Education, what discussions he has had with representatives of Pearson Education Ltd on the number of that company's exam papers that have been leaked online in the last three years.

Nick Gibb: ​Exam security is a matter for the Office of Qualifications and Examinations Regulation (Ofqual), as the independent regulator of qualifications in England. Where there has been a leak of exam material, Ofqual will alert the Department and provide updates as the facts of the case are discovered.While there have not been direct discussions with representatives from Pearson Education Ltd, the exam board has written to my right Hon. Friend, the Secretary of State for Education about the recent leak of A level maths exam material and has committed to keeping the Department updated.

Schools: Inspections

Helen Hayes: To ask the Secretary of State for Education, what assessment his Department has made of the trends in the number of exempt schools that require an Ofsted inspection as a result of declining standards; and if he will undertake a review of the regulations exempting schools ranked as outstanding from routine inspections.

Helen Hayes: To ask the Secretary of State for Education, what assessment has his department made of the effect of trends in the level of school funding on the number of (a) Ofsted rated outstanding schools that have been assessed as (i) good, (ii) requires improvement and (iii) inadequate by Ofsted and (b) stuck schools.

Nick Gibb: The Department has a responsibility to ensure that inspection arrangements are proportionate and achieve an appropriate balance between school autonomy and assurance. That is why we have asked Ofsted to increase the number of outstanding schools it inspects this year, based on its risk assessment, so that those most at risk of decline are inspected.Given Ofsted inspects outstanding schools where it has specific concerns, it is to be expected that in some cases school performance will have declined. This demonstrates that the risk assessment process is working. Nevertheless, of the 305 risk based inspections of exempt schools undertaken by Ofsted between September 2018 and 31 March 2019, 70% were found to be outstanding or good.Since 2017, the Department has given every local authority more money for every pupil in every school, and has allocated the biggest increases to those that have been most underfunded. The Department recognises the budgeting challenges schools face and continues to support schools to make the most of their budgets by reducing non staff costs such as energy, water bills and materials.

Alternative Education

Lucy Powell: To ask the Secretary of State for Education, what recent estimate he has made of the number of children receiving unregistered alternative education provision.

Nick Gibb: The information is not held centrally. Data on alternative provision (AP) is collected by the Department in two ways. The school census collects details of those pupils in pupil referral units, AP academies and AP free schools. This provision is commissioned by local authorities and includes pupils who may be dual-registered with an AP provider and a mainstream school. The school census is a statutory requirement and is collected three times a year (termly, in October, January and May). The AP census collects details on pupil placements in AP settings where a local authority is paying full tuition fees. This includes independent schools, further education colleges offering pre-16 provision and unregistered settings. However, neither the school census nor the AP census collect details on pupils placed in unregistered settings funded directly by schools.

Academies

Lucy Powell: To ask the Secretary of State for Education, with reference to the letter of 20 May 2019 from the Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State for the School System to the Education Select Committee, how many requests for the publication of multi-academy trust improvement plans his Department has (a) received and (b) agreed; and which improvement plans have been published in (i) full and (ii) part as a result of those requests.

Nadhim Zahawi: The information is not held centrally and could only be obtained at disproportionate cost.  Further to my noble friend, the Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State’s letter to the Education Select Committee, dated 20 May 2019, we would note that where the department intervenes, we work with each trust to put in place a recovery process that underpins education provision with strong financial management and oversight. These plans and our support for trusts are flexible and will evolve as the trusts recover and to respond to any future challenges. Any request to disclose an improvement plan is responded to on a case-by-case basis.

Academies Enterprise Trust: Finance

Lucy Powell: To ask the Secretary of State for Education, where the £930, 000 of non-recoverable funding in 2016-17 and 2017-18 for Academies Enterprise Trust has been allocated.

Lucy Powell: To ask the Secretary of State for Education, what the £3.58 million recoverable funding in 2016-17 and 2017-18 allocated to Academies Enterprise Trust has funded.

Nadhim Zahawi: The department can confirm that Academies Enterprise Trust (AET) used their funding in 2016-17 and 2017-18 for administration costs, such as the £930,000 non-recoverable funding being spent for central office staff redundancies and project management costs to transfer 4 academies to other academy trusts. The £3.58 million recoverable funding was spent towards academy level restructuring to reduce operational costs and support the trust’s reserves following the financial impact of transferring Cordeaux, Millbrook, Swallow Hill and Everest academies out of AET, and closing down Sandown Bay.As a result of these restructurings, we expect AET to achieve an operational surplus in the financial year ending 31 August 2019.

Children in Care

Mrs Emma Lewell-Buck: To ask the Secretary of State for Education, with reference to the Children and Social Work Act 2017, when he plans to update the Care Planning, Placement and Case Review (England) Regulations 2010.

Nadhim Zahawi: It remains our intention to undertake a review of the regulations, as committed to during the passage of the Children and Social Work Bill, as soon as resources permit. In the meantime, we are clear that allowing reasonable contact between looked-after children and their siblings is absolutely right where this is in the best interests of the children involved and the Children Act (1989) already provides for this.

Pupil Exclusions: Special Educational Needs

Bridget Phillipson: To ask the Secretary of State for Education, what steps his Department is taking to reduce the number of exclusions among pupils with special educational needs.

Nick Gibb: Schools have a legal duty under the Equality Act (2010) not to discriminate against disabled pupils by excluding them from school because of their disability. Any exclusion must be lawful, reasonable and fair, but within these requirements, schools need to be able to set and enforce behaviour policies that reflect their ethos and the specific challenges they face.The law does not prevent a pupil with special educational needs (SEN) or a disability from being excluded. Schools are required to record and return information on all exclusions which includes, if applicable, the SEN of the pupil. The Department will continue to support headteachers in creating safe and orderly environments that enable teachers to teach and pupils to learn.Schools can only exclude pupils, either permanently or for a fixed period, for disciplinary reasons and the Department supports schools in using exclusion where this is warranted. Permanent exclusion should only be used as a last resort, in response to a serious breach or persistent breaches of the school's behaviour policy, and where allowing the pupil to remain in school would seriously harm the education or welfare of the pupil or others in the school.The Timpson Review of school exclusion considered how schools use exclusion and how this impacts on all pupils, particularly why some groups of children are more likely to be excluded from school. The review and the Government response can be found here: https://www.gov.uk/government/consultations/school-exclusions-review-call-for-evidence.The Government welcomes the review and agrees with all 30 recommendations in principle. The Government is committed to supporting schools and their partners and will be taking forward an ambitious response which respects headteachers’ powers to use exclusion, whilst equipping schools to support children at risk of exclusion.

Pupil Exclusions

Bridget Phillipson: To ask the Secretary of State for Education, what assessment his Department has made of the effect of (a) fixed-term and (b) permanent exclusion on the excluded student’s educational attainment.

Nick Gibb: The technical note published alongside the Government’s response to the Timpson review of school exclusion on 7 May 2019 includes descriptive statistics showing Key Stage 4 attainment by exclusion status. This can be found here:https://www.gov.uk/government/consultations/school-exclusions-review-call-for-evidence.The report states: “Key Stage 4 attainment of pupils receiving a permanent exclusion during secondary school is lower than that for pupils who have never received either a permanent or fixed period exclusion. Among those receiving some form of exclusion, attainment is highest for those receiving only one fixed period exclusion during their school career and lowest for those receiving a permanent exclusion. However, these results do not imply that exclusion is the cause of low attainment (or vice versa) as differences in pupil characteristics that may impact attainment have not been taken into consideration."

Children in Care

Alistair Burt: To ask the Secretary of State for Education, what steps he is taking to improve the (a) quality and (b) provision of accommodation for 16 and 17 year old children in care.

Nadhim Zahawi: Local authorities have a duty to consider the placement for each child and are required to ensure that children in care are provided with suitable accommodation that meets their needs. Many children in care aged 16 and 17 live in foster care or children’s homes, which are inspected by Ofsted. Data from Ofsted’s latest annual report (2017/18) show that 84% of providers are judged as good or outstanding and 2% are inadequate. We are supporting local authorities to increase sufficiency of fostering, secure and non-secure residential placements and ensure that placements meet children’s needs. This includes investing £5 million in an innovation programme funding 3 projects to increase councils residential care capacity and improve commissioning practice. In fostering, we have invited local authorities and their partners to bid for seed funding to conduct feasibility studies into new or expanded collaborative approaches. This is across sufficiency planning, commissioning, recruitment and training of foster parents. In addition, arrangements for young people preparing to step up to, or down from residential care, or return home from foster care. The department is also increasing the number of secure children’s homes beds through our £40 million capital grants programme. In addition, the department has invested nearly £6 million in a pilot programme called Staying Close, which will provide further support for young people leaving residential care. Where it is judged to be in the child’s best interests, local authorities can also accommodate children in care and care leavers aged 16 or 17 in suitable unregulated provision.Suitable accommodation is defined in regulations in the Children Act Volume 2 statutory guidance, a copy of which is available at the following link: https://assets.publishing.service.gov.uk/government/uploads/system/uploads/attachment_data/file/441643/Children_Act_Guidance_2015.pdf. Unregulated accommodation can be the right option for some older children in care and care leavers aged 16 or 17, providing a stepping-stone towards living as an independent adult. In some cases, the quality of accommodation provided may not be reaching the standards we would expect, so I have asked Sir Alan Wood, the Chair of the Residential Care Leadership Board, to collect evidence to help us understand where improvements might be needed. In light of Sir Alan Wood’s findings, we will consider whether further steps need to be taken to ensure that all children in care aged 16 or 17 are living in settings that are safe and provide the wrap-around support that they need.

Education: Young People

Angela Rayner: To ask the Secretary of State for Education, what estimate his Department has made of how many 16 to 18-year-olds will be in full-time education in (a) 2019-20, (b) 2020-21, (c) 2021-22, (d) 2022-23 and (e) 2023-24.

Anne Milton: The department’s estimate of the number of 16-18-year olds in full time education in academic years 2018/19 to 2023/24 in England is as follows:Academic Year2018/192019/202020/212021/222022/232023/24Estimate1,122,0001,127,0001,157,0001,189,0001,227,0001,266,000 This includes:school sixth forms (maintained and academies),sixth form colleges,general further education colleges and other further education providers,special schools,alternative provision (including Pupil Referral Units),independent schools,students taking further education courses in higher education providers. Young people on higher education courses are not included.The increase reflects the increasing number of 16-18-year olds in the population during this period.

Early Years Ministerial Group On Family Support

Andrea Leadsom: To ask the Secretary of State for Education, whether the recommendations of the Inter Ministerial Group on early years family support have been agreed by his Department; and what further steps he has taken to improve early years family support.

Nadhim Zahawi: The Early Years Family Support Ministerial Group is considering how the government can improve the coordination and cost-effectiveness of early years family support and identify gaps in available provision. The group will make recommendations to relevant Secretaries of State in due course.

*No heading*

Mr Ranil Jayawardena: To ask the Secretary of State for Education, what recent assessment his Department has made of children's progress in specialist maths schools.

Nick Gibb: There are currently two open maths schools: Kings College London Mathematics School and Exeter Mathematics School. In 2018, both schools had A level progress scores that were ‘well above average’. Pupils achieved progress scores of 1.46 and 1.10 in A level mathematics in Kings College London and Exeter Mathematics Schools respectively. This means that pupils in these schools achieved, on average, a grade higher than similar pupils nationally. These outcomes place both schools in the top 1% of schools in England for progress in A level mathematics.

Pupil Exclusions: Secondary Education

Bridget Phillipson: To ask the Secretary of State for Education, what comparative assessment he has made of the rate of exclusions of secondary school pupils in (a) Sunderland and (b) England.

Nick Gibb: The National Statistics release ‘Permanent and fixed-period exclusions in England 2016 to 2017’ includes information on the number and rate of permanent and fixed period exclusions.The release is available here: https://www.gov.uk/government/statistics/permanent-and-fixed-period-exclusions-in-england-2016-to-2017.The local authority tables give information at local authority, region, and national level.

Climate Change and Ecology: Curriculum

Joan Ryan: To ask the Secretary of State for Education, what plans his Department has to introduce climate change and ecological education as a core subject in the national curriculum.

Nick Gibb: It is important that young people are taught about climate change and ecology. Topics related to this are already included in both the science and geography national curriculum.For example, in primary school science, pupils are taught about how weather changes across the four seasons and look at how environments can change as a result of human actions. In secondary science, pupils are taught about ecosystems, and the production of carbon dioxide by human activity and the effect this has on the climate. They go on to consider the evidence for additional anthropogenic causes of climate change, and positive and negative interactions with ecosystems and their impact on biodiversity. In secondary geography, pupils will study how human and physical processes interact to influence and change landscapes, environments and the climate.In 2017, the Department also introduced a new environmental science A level. This will enable students to study topics that will support their understanding of climate change and how it can be tackled.The Department is also funding the Children and Nature Programme, a £10 million programme that aims to support children from disadvantaged backgrounds to have better access to the natural environment. This includes studying about nature and how to care for the natural environment.

Academies: Finance

Lucy Powell: To ask the Secretary of State for Education, what criteria (a) his Department and the Education and (b) the Skills Funding Agency use to assess the allocation of funding to academy trusts to protect the provision of education.

Lucy Powell: To ask the Secretary of State for Education, what assessment criteria is used by (a) his Department and (b) the Education and Skills Funding Agency to ascertain whether additional funding to protect the education of children is deemed (a) recoverable and (b) non-recoverable.

Nadhim Zahawi: The Education and Skills Funding Agency (ESFA) has a robust intervention strategy that fits within the overall academy accountability framework. Intervention is always proportionate, risk-based and built on funding agreement and academies financial handbook non-compliance.Where the ESFA intervenes, we work with each trust to put in place a recovery process that underpins education provision with strong financial management and oversight. This can include the provision of funding, issuing a Financial Notice to Improve or, in the most serious cases, termination of the Funding Agreement.Where the provision of funding is considered, this will be done on a case-by case basis, as part of our intervention with the trust.

Academies Enterprise Trust

Lucy Powell: To ask the Secretary of State for Education, if he will place in the Library correspondence between his Department, the Education and Skills Funding Agency and the Academies Enterprise Trust on the publication of the turnaround plan agreed with that trust.

Nadhim Zahawi: There is no plan to place such correspondence in the library but we remain committed to providing updates on progress and further financial support provided in accordance with my noble Friend, the Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State’s letter to the committee of 20 May 2019.

Academies Enterprise Trust: Finance

Lucy Powell: T o ask the Secretary of State for Education, what criteria the Education and Skills Funding Agency used to assess the amount of funding required to support the Academies Enterprise Trust.

Nadhim Zahawi: A new Chair and CEO were appointed to the Academies Enterprise Trust during 2016-17 and they presented a comprehensive improvement plan to the department in early 2017. This plan was assessed by the Education and Skills Funding Agency to put in place a recovery process that underpinned education provision with strong financial management and oversight. This included improving governance of the trust, restructuring of central service teams, stronger financial and budgeting controls, reshaping school improvement structures and impact on educational outcomes. As a result of this assessment and supported by the National Schools Commissioner, additional funding was provided to the Trust.

Academies Enterprise Trust

Lucy Powell: To ask the Secretary of State for Education, what the annual top slice has been for each school in the Academies Enterprise Trust multi-academy trust (a) in total, (b) for operating costs, (c) for school improvement and (d) for efficiency savings in each year since the trust was founded.

Nadhim Zahawi: The Department for Education has indicated that it will not be possible to answer this question within the usual time period. An answer is being prepared and will be provided as soon as it is available.

Healthy Pupils Capital Fund

Angela Rayner: To ask the Secretary of State for Education, pursuant to the Answer of 19 June 2019 to Question 264773, whether his Department has published data on the amount (a) bid for and (b) allocated by each project funded under the Healthy Pupils Capital Fund.

Nadhim Zahawi: The department has published healthy pupils capital fund (HPCF) formulaic allocations for local authorities and larger multi-academy trusts (MATs): https://webarchive.nationalarchives.gov.uk/20190212204720/https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/capital-allocations. Data on individual project funding is not published by the department. Local authorities and MATs have the flexibility to distribute HPCF funding to meet local priorities and need, in line with the HPCF criteria.Data on the final funding amounts allocated to individual HPCF projects through the Condition Improvement Fund (CIF) for single academies and small MATs will be published in due course, once all the projects in the CIF 2018-19 round are complete.

Ministry of Justice

Prisoners: Employment

Kate Green: To ask the Secretary of State for Justice, pursuant to the Answer of 3 December 2018 to Question 196156 on Prisoners: employment, for each of the figures given to provide the proportion of (a) men and (b) women.

Robert Buckland: The figures used to answer question 196156 were taken from data collected on the pre-imprisonment status employment status of individuals within 72 hours of them entering custody using the Basic Custody Screening Tool (BCS) and covered the period 1 April 2017 to 31 March 2018. The corresponding breakdown by gender can be found in the table below. BCS Q B4.12: Were you working before you came to custody?GenderCount of AssessmentsPercentageEmployedFemale10100.99%EmployedMale2115120.78%EmployedNot disclosed10.00%UnemployedFemale65136.40%UnemployedMale5502454.05%UnemployedNot disclosed60.01%Unavailable for workFemale22652.22%Unavailable for workMale85198.37%RetiredFemale690.07%RetiredMale10971.08%RetiredNot disclosed10.00%Self-employedFemale1060.10%Self-employedMale60455.94%Self-employedNot disclosed10.00% Count:101808100.00% Note: Slight discrepancies in the figures from those published in response to question 196156 are likely to be due to the deletion of offender records and/or BCS responses from the OASys application since those figures were published.As was stated in the earlier answer, these figures are compiled from information the prisoners have provided the assessor to enter into the BCS and include not only prisoners sentenced in respect of a criminal offence, but also those received into custody on remand. Given the information is provided by the prisoners themselves and is not assessed, there will always be a margin of error in the figures. A proportion of prisoners will enter custody multiple times each year and may provide different answers to these questions over time. Prisons must be places of rehabilitation, which will ultimately reduce reoffending. Our Education and Employment strategy sets out how we will transform our approach to ensure prisoners develop the skills they need to secure employment on release. We have overhauled the prison education system and we implemented our new prison education contracts. Governors control their budget, including the power to choose providers and deliver learning that will best support their prisoners. We are engaging with employers to take on ex-prisoners via the New Futures Network (NFN) and have consulted on proposals to increase the opportunities available to prisoners to gain experience in real workplaces through ROTL.

Randox Testing Services

Louise Haigh: To ask the Secretary of State for Justice, how many criminal cases have been referred to the Court of Appeal for review as a result of data manipulation at Randox Testing Services; and what was the outcome of those cases.

Paul Maynard: The latest figures show that four road traffic cases have been taken to the Court of Appeal, of which one case was overturned, one resulted in a reduction in sentence, one appeal was unsuccessful, and the fourth is still to be decided. Re-testing has so far identified no impact on other criminal offences, such as sexual offences, violence, or homicide. The National Police Chiefs’ Council (NPCC) co-ordinates the national re-testing operation, and is responsible for providing regular updates.

Treatment Of, and Outcomes For, Black, Asian and Minority Ethnic Individuals in the Criminal Justice System Independent Review

Yasmin Qureshi: To ask the Secretary of State for Justice, what steps his Department has taken to implement recommendation 11 of the Lammy Review; and what information his Department holds on (a) racial and (b) gender breakdowns of (i) plea and (ii) remand decisions in magistrates' courts in the last 12 months.

Yasmin Qureshi: To ask the Secretary of State for Justice, what recent steps have been taken to implement recommendation 12 of the Lammy Review on the Open Justice initiative.

Edward Argar: Recommendation 12 of the Lammy Review has been implemented. MoJ now publishes both sentencing and offence tools which break data down by demographic characteristics, whilst preserving the privacy of individuals where sample groups are small. This was first implemented in May 2018's Criminal Justice Statistics publication and will be updated annually. Latest versions of these data can be found at https://www.gov.uk/government/statistics/criminal-justice-system-statistics-quarterly-december-2018 In relation to the implementation of recommendation 11 of the Lammy Review, research into current processes does not reveal evidence to indicate plea and remand decision data gaps. HMCTS standard operating processes, supported by IT case management systems applying data integrity and validation checks, satisfy the court’s duty under Part 5 of the Criminal Procedure Rules to make records. However, it is true that plea data is not available for a considerable volume of summary only non-imprisonable cases. Unfortunately, this results from a defendant failing to engage with the court process (as opposed to HMCTS failing to record the plea). One of the ways HMCTS is making it easier for defendants to engage with the court process is for defendants to respond online via the make a plea service. Furthermore, while most defendants arrive in the magistrates’ court on bail or in custody, remand decision data is not available for those cases arriving at court (first hearing) by way of postal requisition, summons or single justice procedure notice because, as a matter of law, these defendants are not on remand.

Youth Justice Board

Yasmin Qureshi: To ask the Secretary of State for Justice, what information his Department holds on the demographic breakdown of Youth Justice Boards in the UK.

Paul Maynard: This demographic information relates to the Youth Justice Board (YJB) for England and Wales. Youth Justice is a devolved matter in the rest of the UK. The data below summarises YJB’s staff composition as at 31 March 2019. All staff by gender GenderPercentageMale42%Female58%Total100%All staff by ethnicityEthnicityPercentageBAME17%White66%Not specified16%Total100%All staff by ageAgePercentage25-3414%35-4428%45-5428%55-6425%65 +2%UNKNOWN3%Total 100%All staff by disabilityPercentage of staff who consider themselves disabled2%The data below summarises YJB’s Board member composition as at 1 January 2018. Board members including the Chair by genderGenderPercentageMale73%Female27%Total100%Board members including the Chair by ethnicityEthnicityPercentageBAME9%White91%Not specified0%Total100%Board members excluding the Chair by ageAgePercentage26-3510%36-4510%46-5530%56-6550%Total 100%Board members including the chair by disabilityPercentage of staff who consider themselves disabled9%

Treatment Of, and Outcomes For, Black, Asian and Minority Ethnic Individuals in the Criminal Justice System Independent Review

Yasmin Qureshi: To ask the Secretary of State for Justice, with reference to the update to recommendation 10 on page 25 of the Lammy Review, what assessment his Department has made of the cost of each of the pilots in (a) London (North West Borough Command Unit), (b) Surrey, (c) Cumbria and (d) West Yorkshire; and when his Department plans to publish an interim report on the effectiveness of those pilots.

Edward Argar: The Ministry of Justice has partnered with police forces, Police and Crime Commissioners and the Mayor’s Office for Policing and Crime in London to develop pilots of a Chance to Change (‘deferred prosecution’) model in London (North West Borough Command Unit), Surrey and West Yorkshire. Cumbria are no longer pursuing a pilot. Pilots are yet to fully commence, however, once they are operational we will share updates on progress within wider updates on tackling racial disparity work. Pilot areas have been asked to assess the effectiveness of their schemes. Results on effectiveness should include data on reoffending which will not be available until at least 12 months after any period considered, so will not be immediately available. The department has not made an assessment of the cost of each of the pilots.

Judiciary: Education

Yasmin Qureshi: To ask the Secretary of State for Justice, what the annual budget is of the pre-application judicial education programme.

Paul Maynard: The Pre-application Judicial Education Programme is a positive step forward to support lawyers from all backgrounds, including those from underrepresented groups as they aspire towards a judicial career. MOJ funding for the programme will amount to an estimate of £152,000 over three years (2018/19 to 2020/21). We anticipate that £31,500 of that will be incurred in 2019/20. The total cost of the programme will be approximately £300,000 including contributory costs from partners.

Homelessness

Gloria De Piero: To ask the Secretary of State for Justice, how many challenges have been made to decisions on intentional homelessness in each year since 2012.

Paul Maynard: A full answer cannot be provided as the data requested is not held by HMCTS.

Legal Representation: Homelessness

Gloria De Piero: To ask the Secretary of State for Justice, how many litigants have represented themselves in cases involving homelessness in each year since 2012.

Paul Maynard: A full answer cannot be provided as the data requested is not held by HMCTS.

Probate Service: Staff

Simon Hart: To ask the Secretary of State for Justice, what proportion of staff have been redeployed from the HMRC probate team to other Departments in the last 12 months; and whether the probate registry is understaffed as a result.

Paul Maynard: The administration of the probate service is the responsibility of Her Majesty’s Courts and Tribunals Service. No staff have been redeployed from the probate service to other departments in the last 12 months and therefore there has been no change on the staffing levels.

Probate: Internet

Simon Hart: To ask the Secretary of State for Justice, what assessment he has made of the effectiveness of the new online probate application system.

Paul Maynard: This service is assessed through a range of measures, such as user feedback and user satisfaction. Of 4,995 responses from users who submitted their application online 93% indicated, from five feedback options, that they were satisfied or very satisfied with the online application service provided. The online system is being continually improved and developed as a result of the feedback provided.

Secure Accommodation: Finance

Imran Hussain: To ask the Secretary of State for Justice, how much funding his Department has allocated to secure children's homes in each of the last three years.

Edward Argar: The table below shows the actuals spent on Secure Children’s Homes in the last three years. Year - starting 1st April ending 31st MarchExpenditure on Secure Children’s Homes2016/17£25,606,0002017/18£25,495,0002018/19£26,806,000Total£77,776,920

Youth Justice Board: Grants

Imran Hussain: To ask the Secretary of State for Justice, what representations he has received from representatives of local authorities on Youth Justice Board grants.

Edward Argar: The Ministry of Justice (MOJ) and Youth Justice Board (YJB) receive regular representations from local authorities on a wide range of issues relating to the youth justice system, including in relation to grants. The YJB Good Practice Grant contributes directly to YOS’ statutory work - including preparing pre-sentence reports and supervising youth offenders during sentence as well as front-line work to reduce offending and re-offending by young people. It also contributes to work to prevent children offending and coming into the youth justice system in the first instance. In addition to the YJB Good Practice Grant, the YJB also offer discrete additional grants for specific projects or initiatives, for example funding for restorative justice. The YOS also receives funding from their local authority, health, probation, the police, and, where applicable, the Welsh Government. The YJB will be allocating a total of £72.2m in grants for 19/20, meaning that overall allocation for the front line will be greater than the previous year. This will be broken down into £70.7m for the Good Practice Grant and £1.5m that will be allocated throughout the year for additional projects supporting front line services.

Prisons: Teachers

Imran Hussain: To ask the Secretary of State for Justice, how many teaching posts in prisons are currently vacant.

Robert Buckland: As of 20 June 2019, there were 138 teaching posts reported vacant by the education providers who deliver services to 102 establishments in England under the Prison Education Framework. New education contracts have recently been put in place across England which has resulted in some churn in staffing. This is being managed by our providers via the monitoring of Teacher Quality Management Plans that they must have in place, which detail vacancies and proposed actions for filling them. We must ensure that offenders leave prison with the basic skills that are essential to entering the workplace and with the skills employers need. That is why we have put governors in full control of the education provided in their prisons so that they can tailor it, both to their specific populations and for the local jobs market.

Prisons: Teachers

Imran Hussain: To ask the Secretary of State for Justice, how many teachers were employed in prisons on (a) 31 December 2010, (b) 31 December 2018 and (c) 31 May 2019.

Robert Buckland: Education contracts were not managed by the Ministry of Justice prior to November 2016, so we are unable to provide figures for 31 December 2010. The following figures were reported by Prison Education Framework providers and are correct as of 20 June 2019. The number of teachers employed in establishments with publicly funded education services across England is provided below:DateNumber of teachers employed31 December 2018 (services delivered under the Offender Learning and Skills Services contracts)2,86531 May 2019 (services delivered under the Prison Education Framework contracts)2,530 We must ensure that offenders leave prison with the basic skills that are essential to entering the workplace and with the skills employers need. That is why we have put governors in full control of the education provided in their prisons so that they can tailor it, both to their specific populations and for the local jobs market.

Prisons: Education and Employment

Imran Hussain: To ask the Secretary of State for Justice, how much his Department spent on education and employment services in prisons in each year from 2010.

Robert Buckland: Responsibility for prison education in England transferred from the Department for Education to the Ministry of Justice in November 2016. We can therefore only supply financial information for offender learning from that point onwards. Offender learning includes education focussed on supporting offenders into employment, including activities such as CV and interview training. The information below is taken from Her Majesty’s Prison and Probation Service’s annual accounts. Offender learning spend:2015/16 - £145,682m2016/17 - £146,682m2017/18 - £158,274m We must ensure that offenders leave prison with the basic skills that are essential to entering the workplace and with the skills employers need. That is why we have put governors in full control of the education provided in their prisons so that they can tailor it, both to their specific populations and for the local jobs market.

Prison Sentences

Mr Gregory Campbell: To ask the Secretary of State for Justice, what recent assessment he has made of the effectiveness of imprisonment for public protection sentences.

Robert Buckland: The assessment of the sentence of imprisonment for public protection (IPP) found that they had been used far more widely than intended, and the IPP sentence was subsequently abolished in 2012 and replaced with a new regime of determinate sentences alongside life sentences for the most serious offenders. Attention is now focused on reducing the risk and thereby the successful rehabilitation of those prisoners who continue to serve the IPP sentence. A joint action plan is in place, co-owned by Her Majesty’s Prison and Probation Service (HMPPS) and the Parole Board, with the specific aim of providing opportunities for prisoners to progress towards safe release. The plan reviewed regularly to ensure that the actions in it meet the changing needs of the IPP population. This approach is working, with high numbers of unreleased IPP prisoners achieving a release decision year on year: 562 in 2015, 576 in 2016, 616 I 2017 and 506 in 2018. However, it is important to remember that prisoners serving IPP sentences have committed serious sexual or violent offences - and many remain in prison because the independent parole board has assessed their risk of serious harm to the public to be too great to warrant their release.

Cybercrime: Prosecutions

Mr Gregory Campbell: To ask the Secretary of State for Justice, what estimate he has made of the number of prosecutions for breaches of the Data Protection Act 2018 which have resulted in fines in the last 12 months.

Robert Buckland: The Ministry of Justice has published information regarding the number of prosecutions for offences under the Data Protection Act 2018 in England and Wales which can be found at the following link – https://assets.publishing.service.gov.uk/government/uploads/system/uploads/attachment_data/file/804510/HO-code-tool-principal-offence-2018.xlsx In the ‘Detailed Offence’ field, filter by -‘Obtain / procure disclose / retain personal data without consent of controller’ The total number of prosecutions that resulted in fines for breaches of the Data Protection Act 2018 will appear in the pivot table. Note that the above offence was the only breach of the Data Protection Act 2018 for which there were any prosecutions in 2018. The Data Protection Act 2018 consists of 7 other offences for which there were no prosecutions in 2018. Offences related to the Data Protection Act were introduced in May 2018. The number of prosecutions and those convicted of these offences are therefore relatively low as it takes time for the police to record, investigate and charge offences, before proceedings reach the courts.

Criminal Injuries Compensation: Terrorism

Gloria De Piero: To ask the Secretary of State for Justice, pursuant to the Answers of 4 June 2019 to Question 257721, 5 June 2019 to Question 257717 and 10 June 2019 to Question 257722 on the Criminal Injuries Compensation Scheme: Terrorism, whether the data in those Answers represents compensation paid to victims of terrorism experienced in the UK or abroad.

Edward Argar: The information provided in response to PQs 257721, 257717 and 257722 relates to terrorist incidents that occurred in Great Britain which are compensated under the Criminal Injuries Compensation Scheme.

Youth Custody: Restraint Techniques

Mrs Emma Lewell-Buck: To ask the Secretary of State for Justice, whether his Department collects data on the use of personal safety techniques on children in young offender institutions and secure training centres.

Mrs Emma Lewell-Buck: To ask the Secretary of State for Justice, whether his Department collects data on the reasons for non-Minimising and Managing Physical Restraint techniques being used on children in young offender institutions and secure training centres.

Edward Argar: The Youth Custody Service does collect data on the use of personal safety techniques. The reasons for using these techniques are outlined in Prison Service Instruction 30/2015 (Amendment to Use of Force Prison Service Order 1600). The department publishes data on the use of force, and Non-Minimising and Managing Physical Restraint on young people in custody. The data is published annually and can be found via the link below. https://www.gov.uk/government/statistics/youth-justice-statistics-2017-to-2018 The safety and welfare of young people held in custody is our highest priority. Restraint is only ever used as a last resort, where there is a risk of harm, and no other form of intervention is possible or appropriate. Every incident of restraint, including those involving personal safety techniques is reviewed individually by Her Majesty’s Prison and Probation Service (HMPPS) staff to consider whether any lessons can be learned for the future. Charlie Taylor has been asked to review the Department’s policy on the use of pain-inducing techniques in the restraint of children and young people in the secure estate to ensure that our approach remains appropriate for the youth estate and in line with the latest research. He is due to report back to Ministers with his findings in the coming months.

Bedford Prison: Occupational Health

Liz Saville Roberts: To ask the Secretary of State for Justice, pursuant to the Answer of 13 June 2019 to Question 260703 on Prisons: Occupational Health, how many occupational health assessments have been carried out in HMP Bedford in the last 12 months.

Liz Saville Roberts: To ask the Secretary of State for Justice, pursuant to the Answer of 13 June 2019 to Question 260703 on Prisons: Occupational Health, how many occupational health assessments have been carried out in HMP Winchester in the last 12 months.

Liz Saville Roberts: To ask the Secretary of State for Justice, pursuant to the Answer of 13 June 2019 to Question 260703 on Prisons: Occupational Health, how many occupational health assessments have been carried out in HMP Chelmsford in the last 12 months.

Liz Saville Roberts: To ask the Secretary of State for Justice, pursuant to the Answer of 13 June 2019 to Question 260703 on Prisons: Occupational Health, how many occupational health assessments have been carried out in HMP Lindholme in the last 12 months.

Liz Saville Roberts: To ask the Secretary of State for Justice, pursuant to the Answer of 13 June 2019 to Question 260703 on Prisons: Occupational Health, how many occupational health assessments have been carried out in HMP Long Lartin in the last 12 months.

Robert Buckland: The information requested is provided in the table below. MonthPrisonBedfordChelmsfordLindholmeLong LartinWincesterMay-181818363038Jun-182610231819Jul-182128291926Aug-18134492335Sep-182027142423Oct-18192692723Nov-181326122325Dec-18209142126Jan-191316242924Feb-191519191819Mar-191421104018Apr-191718113219May-191725383511Totals226287246339306 These data have been collated from all Occupational Health Assessments, including

Young Offender Institutions: Crimes of Violence

Jo Stevens: To ask the Secretary of State for Justice, how many recorded violent incidents per head of population in young offender institutions there have been in each year for which figures are available.

Edward Argar: Incidents of assault by children and young people in Young Offender Institutions (YOIs) is published as part of the annual Youth Justice Statistics, the latest of which can be found at https://www.gov.uk/government/statistics/youth-justice-statistics-2017-to-2018. The following has been taken from supplementary table 8.14: Incidents of proven assault by children and young people (YOIs) years ending March 2012 to 2018  Average number of children and young people per month(1)Average number of proven assaults by children and young people per monthAverage number of children and young people involved per month as perpetratorsProportion of children and young people involved as perpetratorsNumber of proven assaults per 100 children and young people in custody per monthNumber of proven assaults per children and young people involvedYear ending MarchYoung Offender Institutions20122,2091431336%6.51.120131,7381241207%7.11.020141,16313313211%11.41.020151,00011711812%11.71.0201690413712914%15.21.12017861828510%9.51.02018(2)8539911313%11.60.9 (1) This is based on the number of children and young people in the month, which is the population in custody at the beginning of the month plus new admissions during the month. This figure includes 18 year olds.(2) The counting rules for assaults were updated from April 2017 onwards and are therefore not directly comparable with previous years. Please see the Guide to Youth Justice Statistics for more information. The safety and welfare of young people held in custody is our highest priority and we are committed to improving their safety and life chances. That is why we began a youth justice reform programme in 2017, investing in staff, education and psychology services. We are making progress delivering these reforms, but we are clear that there is still much more to do. We are also expanding frontline staff capacity in public-sector YOIs. At the end of March this year, the Youth Custody Service had 348 more frontline officers than at the start of the reform programme – an increase of 40%. The Youth Custody Service have started implementing a new evidence-based behaviour management strategy aimed at incentivising good behaviour and building positive relationships. This will sit alongside a new wrap-around approach to mental health provision developed by NHS England.

Prisons: Staff

Chris Ruane: To ask the Secretary of State for Justice, what assessment he has made of the implications for his Department's findings of the Joint Unions in Prisons Alliance survey; and if he will make a statement.

Robert Buckland: The safety of Her Majesty’s Prison and Probation Service staff working in prisons is a priority. The Joint Unions Alliance have written to us regarding the survey and we will give careful consideration to the findings. Her Majesty’s Prison & Probation Service has commenced research into the effects of second-hand exposure of prison staff to psychoactive substances. Initial research is focused on post-exposure testing of staff across ten prisons and it has been agreed that the testing programme will be expanded to include a further 10 prisons.Across the prison estate we have invested an additional £70m in a raft of measures designed to improve safety, security and decency – including body-scanners, enhanced searches and new investigative teams – while the 4,700 additional staff we have recruited since October 2016 are making a real difference.

Prisoners' Release

Neil O'Brien: To ask the Secretary of State for Justice, how many and what proportion of offenders were released from custody having served their full sentence in each year since 2000.

Robert Buckland: Offenders serving determinate sentences do not serve the sentence in full in custody but are released at the automatic release date. In accordance with the provisions of Chapter 6 of the Criminal Justice Act 2003 (CJA 2003) and the previous provisions of the Criminal Justice Act 1991 (now contained in Schedule 20B to the CJA 2003). The automatic release date is generally at the half way point of the sentence. For certain extended sentences (comprising a custodial period and an extended licence period) the automatic release date is at the two thirds point of the custodial period. Once released, offenders continue to serve the sentence on licence in the community.Those serving indeterminate sentences who are not released by the Parole Board and those given whole life orders will serve the sentence in full.There are terms of imprisonment for civil committals where there is no provision for early release. In such cases, release is unconditional once the term has been served in full.

Convictions: Sentencing

Neil O'Brien: To ask the Secretary of State for Justice, how many and what proportion of convicted offenders did not receive an immediate custodial sentence for (a) drug offences, (b) possession of weapons, (c) robbery, (d) sexual offences, (e) theft and (f) violence against the person in each year since 2007.

Robert Buckland: The Ministry of Justice has published information regarding sentencing outcomes for drug, possession of weapons, robbery, sexual, theft and violence against the person offences in England and Wales from 2008 to 2018, which be found at the following link – https://assets.publishing.service.gov.uk/government/uploads/system/uploads/attachment_data/file/802314/outcomes-by-offence-tool-2018.xlsx In each case, in the ‘Offence group’ field, filter by - ’06: Drug offences’’07: Possession of weapons’’03: Robbery’’02: Sexual offences’’04: Theft offences’’01: Violence against the person to obtain these figures. In each case, to obtain the number of offenders who received a non-custodial sentence, subtract ‘Total Immediate Custody’ from ‘Sentenced’, both of which can be found in rows 26 and 36 in the pivot table, respectively. In each case, to obtain the proportion of offenders who received a non-custodial sentence, divide the number of sentenced offenders who did not receive an immediate custodial sentence by ‘Sentenced’. Note that the figures cover the 2008-2018 decade and all figures and proportions calculated are based on those who were sentenced. To view the figures for 2007, please use the following older version of the data tool – https://assets.publishing.service.gov.uk/government/uploads/system/uploads/attachment_data/file/733981/outcomes-by-offence-tool-2017-update.xlsx and repeat the steps quoted above to obtain the required figures.

Personal Independence Payment: Merseyside

Maria Eagle: To ask the Secretary of State for Justice, what the average waiting time has been in Merseyside for personal independence payment tribunal appeals in each of the last 12 months.

Paul Maynard: Information about waiting times for Personal Independence Payment (PIP) appeals to the First-tier Tribunal (Social Security and Child Support - SSCS) is published at:www.gov.uk/government/collections/tribunals-statistics. Average waiting times1 for PIP2 appeals in Merseyside3 between April 2018 to March 2019 (the latest 12 month period for which data are available) is included in the table below: MonthWaiting time (in weeks)4April 201834May 201835June 201835July 201834August 201834September 201836October 201837November 201837December 201838January 2019p37February 2019p38March 2019p36  1 Waiting time is interpreted as average clearance time – time taken from appeal receipt to outcome2. Personal Independence Payment (New Claim Appeals), which is replacing Disability Living Allowance was introduced on 8 April 2013, also includes Disability Living Allowance Reassessed cases3. SSCS data are recorded by the office that dealt with the case, and if the case went to oral hearing, the location of the tribunal hearing, normally the hearing venue nearest to the appellant’s home address. Cases relating to the Merseyside region are attributed to the following SSCS venues: Birkenhead, Liverpool & St Helens4. Includes all cases cleared both with and without a tribunal hearing, in line with the published statisticsp Provisional data which are subject to change. Waiting times are calculated from receipt of an appeal to its final disposal. An appeal is not necessarily disposed of at its first hearing. The final disposal decision on the appeal may be reached after an earlier hearing had been adjourned (which may be directed by the judge for a variety of reasons, such as to seek further evidence), or after an earlier hearing date had been postponed (again, for a variety of reasons, often at the request of the appellant). An appeal may also have been decided at an earlier date by the First-tier Tribunal, only for the case to have gone on to the Upper Tribunal, to be returned once again to the First-tier, for its final disposal. In order to respond to a general increase in appeal receipts, HM Courts & Tribunals Service (HMCTS) has been working with the judiciary to reduce waiting times for appeals and has appointed additional judges and panel members. This includes 250 judges across the First-tier Tribunal, 125 disability qualified members and up to 230 medical members. In addition, more PIP appeals are being listed per session and case-management “triage” sessions have been introduced, with the aim of reducing the time taken for appeals to reach final determination. All these measures will increase the capacity of the tribunal, with the aim of reducing waiting times for appellants. In addition, we have recently launched a new digital service with a view to enabling speedier processing of appeals and provide a better service for all parties to the proceedings. Information on the new digital service can be found at:https://www.gov.uk/appeal-benefit-decision/submit-appeal Latest figures for PIP (to December 2018) indicate that since it was introduced, 3.9 million decisions have been made. Of these, 10% have been appealed and 5% have been overturned at tribunals.

Offences against Children: Compensation

Andrew Griffiths: To ask the Secretary of State for Justice, what estimate his Department has made of the number of private prosecutions brought for compensation for victims of child sexual abuse in January 2017.

Edward Argar: It is not possible to identify private prosecutions in the courts proceedings database; this would require a manual search of court records which would be of disproportionate cost.

HM Courts and Tribunals Service: Finance

Rushanara Ali: To ask the Secretary of State for Justice, how much funding has been provided by the Department for Work and Pensions towards the cost of Her Majesty’s Courts & Tribunals Service in each of the last four years; and what proportion of the cost of the First Tier Tribunal (Social Security & Child Support) that funding represented in each of those years.

Paul Maynard: Her Majesty’s Court and Tribunal Service (HMCTS) is responsible for the cost of administering First Tier Tribunals (SSCS). The tribunals hear appeals against decisions made by the Department for Work and Pensions on a range of benefits. The Department of Work and Pensions’ (DWP) contribute towards the cost of Attendance Allowance, Disability Living Allowance and Personal Independence Payment appeals. The HMCTS gross cost of administering the tribunal and DWP income received for the last four years are detailed in the table below. First Tier Tribunal (Social Security & Child Support)£000s2014-152015-162016-172017-18Total Direct Expenditure71,38078,04088,124100,022Income from Department for Work and Pensions11,00016,00012,43329,156Proportion of Income to Expenditure15%21%14%29%

Probate: Winchester

Sir Christopher Chope: To ask the Secretary of State for Justice, how many (a) personal and (b) solicitor applications for probate to the Winchester registry office had been outstanding on 17 June 2019 for more than (i) 10 days and (ii) 10 weeks; and when that backlog of cases will have been resolved.

Paul Maynard: The volume of outstanding probate cases at the Winchester Registry Office on 17 June was as follows: - Personal Applications997 more than 10 days250 more than 10 weeks Solicitors Applications3274 more than 10 days211 more than 10 weeks Cases outstanding for more than 10 weeks will include those in which the circumstances are beyond the Probate Service’s control. For example, applicants may be still waiting for their inheritance tax forms from Her Majesty’s Revenue & Customs, or they may not have accounted for all executors named in the will. These requirements must be satisfied before the grant is issued. Urgent action has been taken to address delays - staffing has been increased and the digital service further improved to reduce the waiting times in order to return performance to normal levels as soon as possible.

Probate

Sir Christopher Chope: To ask the Secretary of State for Justice, what assessment he has made of the reasons for the increase in the target time for dealing with probate applications; and what regulatory impact assessment he has made of the effect of those changes on (a) applicants and (b) solicitors.

Paul Maynard: There are no prescribed target times for dealing with probate applications. The recent increase in waiting times has been caused by a combination of an increased volume of incoming work and the transition to a new case management IT system. The move to the new system meant that staff had to spend time being trained and familiarising themselves with the system – which also had some initial performance issues that have been addressed. The change to the new case management system resulted in part from the expansion of the online probate service which was enabled by the 2018 amendments to the non-contentious probate rules. The Explanatory Memorandum for the 2018 Order amending the rules provided an assessment of the impact of the reforms. The memorandum explained that a formal impact assessment was not required as the aggregate impact of the measures was expected to be well below the £5million per annum financial threshold.

Probate: Fees and Charges

Sir Christopher Chope: To ask the Secretary of State for Justice, if he will make it his policy to waive probate fees in cases where applications are not processed within ten days through no fault of the applicant; and if he will make a statement.

Paul Maynard: There are no statutory requirements or public commitments from Her Majesty’s Courts and Tribunals Service in relation to the timeframe for issuing grants of probate. There is a cost to the provision of grants of probate and it is appropriate that this cost is mainly recovered through the application fee, rather than the burden falling to the tax payer.

Speaker's Committee on the Electoral Commission

Political Parties: Finance

Stephen Doughty: To ask the hon. Member for Houghton and Sunderland South, representing the Speaker's Committee on the Electoral Commission, whether the Electoral Commission plans to review the ability of UK political parties and campaigns to receive micro-funding from overseas donors.

Bridget Phillipson: Electoral law allows parties to adopt a fundraising strategy that focusses on raising funds in small amounts. A positive aspect of this is broad engagement of people in politics.Parliament set a threshold of £500, above which donations must be from permissible sources. This is to limit influence from outside the UK on our elections and democracy. Below the threshold, sums given to parties and campaigners are not considered to be donations under law, but recipients still need to satisfy themselves who is giving these sums. Multiple sums from a single source could aggregate to above £500 triggering the permissibility rules. This would exclude overseas donors not on the UK electoral register.Parties must have systems in place to comply with the rules, and the Commission provides advice to parties and campaigners about how to ensure that they do. If the current law is complied with, there is no reason why micro funding would result in impermissible donations from overseas donors. However, if it is considered that confidence in this needs to be improved by more transparency, the level of the £500 threshold could be lowered by Parliament.

Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government

Help to Buy Scheme

Andrea Jenkyns: To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, with reference to the National Audit Office report Help to Buy: Equity loan scheme published on 12 June 2019, what assessment he has made of the effectiveness of the Help to Buy scheme in supporting less well-off people to purchase property.

Kit Malthouse: An independent evaluation of Help to Buy: Equity Loan commissioned by the Government found that that the scheme helped 75 per cent of customers to enter the market.Most of the homes purchased through the scheme are made by first-time buyers, so far accounting for 171,053 (81 per cent) of total purchases.The scheme helps those who cannot raise a large deposit, with 57 per cent of buyers paying only a 5 per cent deposit to purchase their home.56 per cent of households who purchased a home through Help to Buy: Equity Loan have had a total household income of £50,000 or less.The Government runs a range of schemes to assist people into home ownership, such as Shared Ownership and Right to Buy.The number of completions by band of total household income is set out at Table 7 of the quarterly statistics on Help to Buy: Equity Loan to December 2018:https://assets.publishing.service.gov.uk/government/uploads/system/uploads/attachment_data/file/798255/HTB_Equity_Loan_statistical_release_Q4_2018.pdf

Local Government: Trees

Caroline Lucas: To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, how many of the local authorities in England with statutory duties for street trees have in-house tree officers; and of those officers how many are qualified to at least level 3 diploma in arboriculture or equivalent in a related subject.

Caroline Lucas: To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, how many local authorities have trees and woodland strategies.

Caroline Lucas: To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, how many local authorities have their Tree Preservation Order data available for review online; and if he will write to local authorities that do not to ask what plans they have to put their data online.

Kit Malthouse: The Department does not routinely collect information on the employment or qualifications of local authority tree officers; which local authorities have tree or woodland strategies; or which local authorities have their Tree Preservation Order data available for review online The decision on whether to make this information available is for individual local planning authorities.

Social Rented Housing: Regulation

Dr Sarah Wollaston: To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, what assessment he has made of the implications for his policies of recommendations for a new Social Housing regulator in the report entitled A Vision for Social Housing published by Shelter.

Dr Sarah Wollaston: To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, what assessment his Department has made of the potential merits of the recommendation in the Shelter report entitle of, A vision for social housing, to establish a consumer protection regulator for social renters alongside an economic regulator of social housing.

Kit Malthouse: Nothing is more important than ensuring people are safe in their homes. Residents’ voices need to be heard to ensure proper standards are maintained and that where things are going wrong they are picked up and addressed. We want to ensure that there is a coherent and consistent approach to regulation to deliver these objectives, and achieve the best deal for tenants and landlords. Our review of social housing regulation is exploring the most appropriate way of doing so, and we will publish the results of that review in due course.

Social Rented Housing: Regulation

Emma Dent Coad: To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, what when he plans to publish the outcome of the review of social housing regulation, announced on 14 August 2018.

Kit Malthouse: Nothing is more important than ensuring people are safe in their homes. Residents’ voices need to be heard to ensure proper standards are maintained and that where things are going wrong they are picked up and addressed. We want to ensure that there is a coherent and consistent approach to regulation to deliver these objectives, and achieve the best deal for tenants and landlords. Our review of social housing regulation is exploring the most appropriate way of doing so, and we will publish the results of that review in due course.

Sleeping Rough

Mr Jim Cunningham: To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, what steps he is taking to record the number of people sleeping rough in makeshift camps in official rough sleeping statistics.

Mrs Heather Wheeler: The Government's latest annual Rough Sleeping Statistics, published on 31 January 2019, include people sleeping rough in make shift camps but no separate figures about the types of sites where people are sleeping rough are recorded.These statistics show the total number of people counted or estimated to be sleeping rough in each local authority area in England, on a single night in Autumn 2018 was 4,677. This was down by 74 people or 2 per cent from the 2017 total of 4,751 and was up 2,909 people or 165 per cent from the 2010 total of 1,768.Local authorities use a specific definition to identify people sleeping rough. This includes people sleeping or who are about to bed down in open air locations and other places including tents, cars, and makeshift shelters.The full definition of people sleeping rough is as follows:People sleeping, about to bed down (sitting on/in or standing next to their bedding) or actually bedded down in the open air (such as on the streets, in tents, doorways, parks, bus shelters or encampments). People in buildings or other places not designed for habitation (such as stairwells, barns, sheds, car parks, cars, derelict boats, stations, or “bashes” which are makeshift shelters, often comprised of cardboard boxes). The definition does not include people in hostels or shelters, people in campsites or other sites used for recreational purposes or organised protest, squatters or travellers. Bedded down is taken to mean either lying down or sleeping. About to bed down includes those who are sitting in/on or near a sleeping bag or other bedding.These statistics are available at the following link:https://www.gov.uk/government/statistics/rough-sleeping-in-england-autumn-2018This Government is committed to reducing homelessness and rough sleeping. No one should ever have to sleep rough. That is why last summer we published the cross-government Rough Sleeping Strategy which sets out an ambitious £100 million package to help people who sleep rough now, but also puts in place the structures that will end rough sleeping once and for all. The Government has now committed over £1.2 billion to tackle homelessness and rough sleeping over the spending review period. This year, Rough Sleeping Initiative investment totals £46 million and has been allocated to 246 areas – providing funding for an estimated 750 additional staff and over 2,600 bed spaces.

Sleeping Rough

Mr Jim Cunningham: To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, what estimate his Department has made of the number people living in makeshift homeless camps who have been removed in each of the last 10 years.

Mrs Heather Wheeler: MHCLG does not collect any statistics on the number of people living in people living in makeshift homeless camps who have been removed to provide an estimate.The annual Rough Sleeping Statistics, published on 31 January 2019, include people sleeping rough in make shift camps but no separate figures about the types of sites where people are sleeping rough are recorded or whether they have been removed.These statistics show the total number of people counted or estimated to be sleeping rough in each local authority area in England, on a single night in Autumn 2018 was 4,677. This was down by 74 people or 2 per cent from the 2017 total of 4,751 and was up 2,909 people or 165 per cent from the 2010 total of 1,768.Local authorities use a specific definition to identify people sleeping rough. This includes people sleeping or who are about to bed down in open air locations and other places including tents, cars, and makeshift shelters.The full definition of people sleeping rough is as follows:People sleeping, about to bed down (sitting on/in or standing next to their bedding) or actually bedded down in the open air (such as on the streets, in tents, doorways, parks, bus shelters or encampments). People in buildings or other places not designed for habitation (such as stairwells, barns, sheds, car parks, cars, derelict boats, stations, or “bashes” which are makeshift shelters, often comprised of cardboard boxes). The definition does not include people in hostels or shelters, people in campsites or other sites used for recreational purposes or organised protest, squatters or travellers. Bedded down is taken to mean either lying down or sleeping. About to bed down includes those who are sitting in/on or near a sleeping bag or other bedding.These statistics are available at the following link:https://www.gov.uk/government/statistics/rough-sleeping-in-england-autumn-2018This Government is committed to reducing homelessness and rough sleeping. No one should ever have to sleep rough. That is why last summer we published the cross-government Rough Sleeping Strategy which sets out an ambitious £100 million package to help people who sleep rough now, but also puts in place the structures that will end rough sleeping once and for all. The Government has now committed over £1.2 billion to tackle homelessness and rough sleeping over the spending review period. This year, Rough Sleeping Initiative investment totals £46 million and has been allocated to 246 areas – providing funding for an estimated 750 additional staff and over 2,600 bed spaces.

Buildings: Insulation

Mr Steve Reed: To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, whether his Department is aware of any fire safety tests carried out in the UK on High Pressure Laminate cladding since June 2017.

Kit Malthouse: We are not aware of any test carried out in the UK on High Pressure Laminates (HPL) panels since June 2017 other than the tests the Government is currently undertaking on The Department is aware that manufacturers routinely carry out fire safety tests of their products but is not automatically made aware of these. The Building Research Establishment has published a catalogue of tests which it has undertaken where companies which have commissioned the test have agreed that the test be disclosed

Building Control Performance Standards Advisory Group

Mr Steve Reed: To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, for what reason his Department has not published data from the Building Control Performance Standards Advisory Group since July 2017.

Kit Malthouse: Following the Grenfell Tower fire, the Department has prioritised urgent operational and policy work to ensure that people are safe in their homes now and in future. We intend to publish the building control performance standards data later this year.

Social Rented Housing: Regulation

Tim Farron: To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, pursuant to the Answer of 17 June 2019 to Questions 263119 on Social Rented Housing Regulation, what the timetable is for the publication of his Department's review of social housing regulation.

Kit Malthouse: Our review of social housing regulation will be published in due course.

Gangs and Knives: Crime

Louise Haigh: To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, with reference to the press release of 22 February 2019 entitled £9.8 million fund to confront knife and gang crime culture, how many families in each project area have been assisted by the fund; and what support they have received.

Rishi Sunak: The Troubled Families Programme is a £920 million programme to help up to 400,000 families with multiple and complex needs, including those at risk of becoming involved in crime and serious violence. The Supporting Families Against Youth Crime Fund has provided a further £9.8 million to help 21 places further enhance how their local Troubled Families Programme helps tackle youth violence and gangs. Each of the projects are designed to respond directly to the needs of their community and so the support provided to families varies in each local area. They include diversionary activities such as boxing and residential courses, resilience building, out of hours mentors, conflict resolution and whole family counselling. Local areas awarded funding will provide monitoring data later this year.

Homelessness

Jo Stevens: To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, what recent assessment his Department has made of the proportion of homeless people in England who (a) are veterans of the armed services, (b) have recently been released from prison and (c) have previously been in receipt of universal credit.

Mrs Heather Wheeler: This Government is committed to reducing homelessness and rough sleeping. No one should ever have to sleep rough. That is why last summer we published the cross-government Rough Sleeping Strategy which sets out an ambitious £100 million package to help people who sleep rough now, but also puts in place the structures that will end rough sleeping once and for all. The Government has now committed over £1.2 billion to tackle homelessness and rough sleeping over the spending review period.In March we allocated an additional £1 million of bespoke funding to support ex- members of the armed forces who are or are at risk of becoming homeless. The funding has been allocated between the Combined Authorities and the Greater London Authority, and will be used to develop new services and support them in engaging with existing service provision.Accommodation data for Armed force veterans is limited as the Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government does not collect statistics on whether or not people sleeping rough have served in the armed forces.However, the Combined Homelessness and Information Network stats suggest that 3 per cent of the rough sleeping population in London have served in the armed Forces.We do not collect data on how many people, owed a statutory homeless duty, are veterans. However, in April 2018 my Department introduced a data capturing tool, the Homelessness Case Level Information Collection referred to as H-CLIC which captures the support needs of a household, including if someone has a support need as a result of being in the armed forces. The latest H-CLIC data for October to December 2018 shows that of the 61,410 households in England who were owed a homelessness duty in England, 0.72 per cent had support needs because they had previously served in the armed forces. This does not include households that did not approach their local authority for help or those who do not require additional support because they previously served.In terms of prisoners released, during October to December 2018, 1.8 per cent of the 61,410 households owed a homeless duty in England were homeless on departure from prison.Information is not held on people previously in receipt of universal credit who are owed a homeless duty.

High Rise Flats: Balconies

Tulip Siddiq: To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, if he will bring forward legislative proposals to ban the use of highly combustible material in the balconies of blocks of flats.

Kit Malthouse: I refer the Hon Member to the answer given to Question UIN 263163 on 11 June 2019.

Council Tax: Debt Collection

Mr Barry Sheerman: To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, how much local authorities spent on contracts with bailiffs and civil enforcement agents to recover council tax debts in each year since 2010.

Rishi Sunak: The Government does not collect data on how much local authorities spend on contracts with bailiffs and civil enforcement agents to recover council tax debts.

Buildings: Insulation

Mr Steve Reed: To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, pursuant to the Answer of 17 June 2019 to Question 262396 on Buildings: Insulation, if in light of that BS 8414 test failure his Department will advise the removal of High Pressure Laminate cladding and combustible insulation from high risk buildings.

Mr Steve Reed: To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, pursuant to the Answer of 17 June 2019 to Question 262396 on Buildings: Insulation, if in light of that BS 8414 test failure his Department will undertake a further BS 8414 test on high pressure laminate cladding and combustible insulation.

Mr Steve Reed: To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, pursuant the Answer of 17 June 2019 to Question 262396 on Buildings: Insulation, if in light of that BS 8414 test failure his Department will undertake to identify high risk buildings with this combination of cladding and insulation as part of the Building Safety Programme.

Kit Malthouse: We have published guidance to reiterate the importance of building owners assessing their buildings and ensuring that non-Aluminium Composite Material (ACM) cladding systems are safe. Advice Note 14, published in 2017 and updated in December 2018, reiterates that the clearest way to ensure safety is to remove unsafe materials.   https://assets.publishing.service.gov.uk/government/uploads/system/uploads/attachment_data/file/765761/Expert_Panel_advice_note_on_non-ACM.pdf   Acting on advice from the Independent Expert Advisory Panel, the Government has commissioned research to support further understanding of the fire performance of non-ACM external wall systems. The tests began on 30 April 2019 and we expect final results to be available by the Summer. The research findings will be published in due course. In addition the Department commissioned the Fire Protection Association to carry out a large scale test (BS 8414) using High Pressure Laminate panels and stone wool insulation.   The Government continues to work with stakeholders to gain a fuller understanding of the construction and safety of high-rise residential buildings.

Buildings: Insulation

Mr Steve Reed: To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, how many of the non-Aluminium Composite Material samples held by the Building Research Establishment are high pressure laminate cladding with combustible insulation.

Kit Malthouse: I refer the Hon Member to the answer given to Question UIN 210599 on 21 January 2019.

Buildings: Insulation

Mr Steve Reed: To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, pursuant the Answer of 17 June 2019 to Question 262396 on Buildings: Insulation, whether the high pressure laminate cladding that failed the BS 8414 test was (a) Fire Retardant Euroclass B or (b) Standard Grade Euroclass D.

Kit Malthouse: MHCLG do not hold this information. This large scale (BS 8414) test was commissioned by a 3rd party.

Ministry of Defence

Hawk Aircraft

Nia Griffith: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, how many Hawk T1s are currently being used for RAF pilot training.

Stuart Andrew: Number 100 Squadron based at RAF Leeming provides air threat training for the Typhoon Force and Close Air Support training for land units.However, when required, up to three of their Hawk T1 aircraft may be given over to Advanced Fast Jet Training, although the exact figure can vary according to need on a daily basis.

Royal Military Academy

Nia Griffith: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, how many people that identified as (a) BAME and (b) White were accepted to the Royal Military Academy Sandhurst in the last five years.

Mr Tobias Ellwood: The intake into the Royal Military Academy Sandhurst (RMAS) by ethnicity for the last five years can be found in the table below:  Financial Year2014-152015-162016-172017-182018-19Total Intake480540610590600of which: BAME1020202010White470520580540560Unknown--103020 The table represents those that have been posted to RMAS on the Joint Personnel Administration System but does not represent all of those that attend RMAS. The ethnicity of total Officer intake, both Regular and Reserve, can be found in the published Biannual Statistics at the following link, but will include small numbers of trained personnel who do not go through RMAS selection: https://www.gov.uk/government/statistics/uk-armed-forces-biannual-diversity-statistics-2019 Notes/Caveats: Information is recorded by optional self-declaration. The 'Unknown' category includes those that declined to declare their ethnicity.Figures are for untrained intake of Regular Officers starting at Royal Military Academy Sandhurst (RMAS) over the past 5 financial years. The figures are for the Regular Army only, and therefore exclude Gurkhas, Full Time Reserve Service, Mobilised Reserves, Army Reserve and all other Reserves.Figures have been rounded to 10 for presentational purposes; numbers ending in "5" have been rounded to the nearest multiple of 20 to prevent systematic bias.Totals and sub-totals have been rounded separately and so may not appear to be the sum of their parts.“-” denotes zero or rounded to zero

British Steel: Insolvency

Nia Griffith: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, what assessment she has made of the effect of British Steel's recent insolvency announcement on (a) the Fleet Solid Support contract and (b) other defence-related contracts.

Stuart Andrew: Steel for our major defence programmes is generally sourced by our prime contractors from a range of UK and international suppliers and that remains the case. This Government is committed to creating the right conditions in the UK for a competitive and sustainable steel industry. It publishes its future pipeline for steel requirements, together with data on how Departments are complying with steel procurement guidance at the following link: www.gov.uk/government/publications/steel-public-procurement This enables UK steel manufacturers to better plan and bid for Government contracts. It is too early to comment on the sourcing of steel for the Fleet Solid Support ships.

Ministry of Defence: Iron and Steel

Jessica Morden: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, if her Department will be signing the UK Steel Charter.

Stuart Andrew: The Ministry of Defence (MOD) is currently considering whether to become a signatory to the UK Steel Charter.The MOD is committed to addressing any barriers preventing UK steel suppliers from competing effectively in the open market. This includes, for example, publishing our future pipeline for steel requirements on GOV.UK, which enables UK steel manufacturers to better plan and bid for Government contracts.

Future Large Aircraft

Mr Mark Francois: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, what estimate he has made of the cost of the programme to improve the airworthiness of the RAF's A400M fleet; and whether any of that cost is being being borne by (a) the RAF, (b) Airbus and (c) a combination of the two.

Stuart Andrew: The A400M aircraft is fully compliant with all UK safety and airworthiness standards. A modification programme is under way to improve the reliability of aircraft systems to increase availability. This programme of work is fully funded by Airbus and their subcontractors under the terms of the contract.

Department for Work and Pensions

Universal Credit: Self-employed

Hywel Williams: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, what criteria her Department uses to categorise universal credit applicants as gainfully self-employed.

Hywel Williams: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, what criteria her Department use to assess whether a self-employed universal credit applicant is working 35 hours per week or more in paid employment.

Hywel Williams: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, whether her Department differentiates between annual turnover and salary when assessing the incomes of self-employed applicants of universal credit.

Alok Sharma: The Department provides tailored support to our claimants who are in self-employment through our work coaches to help them to increase their productivity and earnings. Work coaches can refer low-earning claimants to mentoring support from New Enterprise Allowance providers and sign-post claimants to the other extensive business support which is already funded by the Government. All claimants with earnings from self-employment, whether gainfully self-employed or not, are required to self-report these each month to ensure that any Universal Credit (UC) payments take into account all household earnings. Monthly reporting allows UC to be adjusted monthly. Claimants are required to report the total of actual payments into and out of their business in each month, minus any Income Tax, National Insurance, permitted business expenses and relievable pension contributions actually paid. This gives a net profit figure, which is treated as the self-employed earnings total in the UC calculation. Any drawings from business to personal accounts or, where a claimant has incorporated their business, payment of salary from their company to their personal account, is disregarded in this calculation to avoid double counting. When a claim is made to Universal Credit the Department will, on the basis of the information provided by the claimant, assess whether the claimant may reasonably be expected to work. If a claimant is in a group expected to work, the number of hours they may be expected to work is a maximum of 35 but may be lower, for example to take account of caring responsibilities or a health condition. If a claimant is self-employed and in a group expected to work, the Department then considers a number of factors to establish whether someone is gainfully self-employed. A claimant is considered to be in gainful self-employment where all of the following apply: the claimant is carrying on a trade, profession or vocation as their main employmenttheir earnings from that trade, profession or vocation are self-employed earningsthe trade, profession or vocation is organised, developed, regular and carried out in expectation of profit If all of the above are satisfied, then the claimant is considered gainfully self-employed. A Minimum Income Floor (MIF) is calculated by multiplying the number of hours the gainfully self-employed claimant is expected to work by the relevant National Minimum Wage for their age, minus notional deductions for Income Tax and National Insurance Contributions. Gainfully self-employed claimants with a MIF applied to their claim are free from requirements to seek other work and are free to undertake those activities that they consider will maximise their profit including decisions about when and how to work most effectively. As we announced in the Autumn Budget 2018, we are extending the 12-month start-up period where claimants are exempt from the Minimum Income Floor to all gainfully self-employed claimants who are new to Universal Credit. This start-up period will provide time for self-employed claimants to establish and grow their business, or to adjust to Universal Credit. On average earnings from self-employment are lower than from employment and the self-employed make up a significant proportion of those in in-work poverty. The Government believes the MIF, by incentivising claimants to earn more from self-employment, or alternatively enter employment, offers the most effective way of tackling in-work poverty for the self-employed.

Universal Credit: Self-employed

Hywel Williams: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, how many universal credit claimants are categorised as self-employed in (a) Arfon, (b) Wales and (c) the UK.

Alok Sharma: The Department plans to publish statistics on Universal Credit and self-employment, including claimant numbers, in the future. The Government’s commitment remains to helping self-employed claimants with viable businesses to thrive, while protecting public funds.We provide tailored support to our claimants who are in self-employment through our work coaches to help them to increase their productivity and earnings. Work coaches can also sign-post claimants to the extensive business support which is already funded by the Government.As we announced in the Autumn Budget 2018, we will be extending the 12-month start-up period where claimants are exempt from the Minimum Income Floor to all gainfully self-employed claimants who are new to Universal Credit. This start-up period will provide time for self-employed claimants to establish and grow their business, or to adjust to Universal Credit.The Department has also extended mentoring support from New Enterprise Allowance mentors to Universal Credit claimants with earnings below their Minimum Income Floor, to help them to develop a plan to grow their earnings.

Employment: Mental Health

Sir George Howarth: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, what steps her Department is taking to implement the six core standards for workplaces as set out in the Government’s thriving at work report; and if she will make a statement.

Justin Tomlinson: In November 2017, the joint DWP/DHSC Work and Health Unit (WHU) published Improving Lives: the Future of Work, Health and Disability setting out our response to Thriving at Work and WHU is now overseeing progress across 40 recommendations. The Civil Service is committed to being a leading employer and implementing the core and enhanced mental health standards to deliver lasting cultural change. All main government departments have benchmarked themselves against the mental health standards to identify best practice and areas requiring further action, and every Civil Service Permanent Secretary now has a performance objective directly related to implementing the standards and Civil Service Wellbeing Confident Leaders training is being rolled out to senior leaders. One of the review’s recommendations was about transparency as a significant opportunity to encourage cultural change around mental health. We have worked with partners, including employers, to develop a framework to support organisations to record and voluntarily report information on disability and mental health in the workplace. This framework was published on 22nd November 2018 and is aimed at large employers with 250 or more employees. The WHU is an active member of the Thriving at Work Leadership Council consisting of a range of business and public sector representatives, and leading trade associations. The council is an employer led group that will continue to meet throughout 2019 with the primary objectives to champion the mental health standards and explore innovative solutions to further drive their implementation and adoption. Individual members committed to promoting the standards through their networks and to create sector champions.

State Retirement Pensions

Mrs Madeleine Moon: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, pursuant to the Answer of 28 May 2019 to Question 256267 on State Retirement Pensions, what estimate he has made of the number of cases where a person has received an inaccurate state pension forecast as a result of part of their state pension being contracted out.

Guy Opperman: I have been asked to reply on behalf of the Chancellor. State Pension forecasts are based on the individual’s National Insurance record that is held at the time the forecast is produced. There may be subsequent changes to the National Insurance information; additionally for a small percentage of National Insurance records the information may be incomplete. Where this is the case, this may affect the State Pension forecast. For this reason the forecasts make it clear that they are subject to change. HMRC and DWP continue to work closely to improve our ability to identify and correct inaccuracies as quickly as possible. Where inaccurate or incomplete National Insurance records are identified they are routinely corrected by HMRC. Additionally, HMRC also ensure that any inconsistencies that remain on an individual’s National Insurance record are investigated in the period leading up to State Pension age to ensure the correct amount of State Pension is put into payment.

Employment: Mental Health

Sir George Howarth: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, what plans she has to strengthen protections for mental health at work under health and safety legislation.

Justin Tomlinson: In October 2017, the Prime Minister welcomed and accepted the recommendations of the Thriving at Work: The Stevenson / Farmer review of mental health and employers. This recognised that employers should develop a comprehensive approach to managing mental health that includes implementing activity on preventing mental ill health caused by work, promoting good mental health in the workplace and supporting individuals who experience poor mental health. Actions to implement this comprehensive approach are described within the mental health standards developed by the reviewers and accepted by Government. Existing duties under the Health and Safety at Work Act 1974 contribute by requiring employers to put in place measures to prevent causes of work-related mental ill health. Specifically, the Management of Health and Safety at Work Regulations 1999 require employers to undertake a risk assessment and act on that assessment by removing or putting in place reasonable steps to control the causes of work-related mental ill health. Additionally, under the Health and Safety (First Aid) Regulations 1981, employers have a responsibility to consider the mental health needs of their staff as part of their ‘first aid needs assessment’ and decide on what support is necessary. This assessment enables employers to put in place measures that will directly respond to their employee needs and allows businesses flexibility where those needs may change. Supporting individuals in distress until professional help arrives is an important feature of any first aid event regardless of its nature. It is a key component in the first aid syllabus contained in the regulations and meets the NHS recommended approach for assisting an individual who is experiencing a mental health crisis. Government is committed to working with key stakeholders, public, private and voluntary sectors to ensure that employers of all sizes implement the mental health standards, comply with their legal duties and realise the benefit of healthy inclusive workplaces.

Historic Buildings: Health Hazards

Rachael Maskell: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, with reference to the protections introduced in Germany and Austria for workers renovating or demolishing buildings against the risk of breathing in historical man-made mineral fibres which are now considered to pose a serious risk to health, what steps she is taking to introduce similar protections for UK workers.

Justin Tomlinson: The Health and Safety Executive (HSE) is aware of the guidelines that have been produced in Germany and Austria, advising companies on the measures they should take to protect workers against risks of breathing in historic man-made mineral fibres (MMMFs).In Great Britain there is a statutory framework in place to protect workers who may be exposed to any hazardous substance, such as MMMFs, regardless of how that exposure occurs. This framework includes the Health and Safety at Work etc. Act 1974 which places a general duty on employers to ensure, so far as is reasonably practicable, the health, safety and welfare of people affected by their work activities. The Control of Substances Hazardous to Health Regulations 2002 (COSHH), places specific duties on employers and implements several EU Directives on worker protection, ensuring our standards meet those required of all EU Member States. COSHH requires employers to carry out a risk assessment to establish the hazards associated with the tasks and processes they are undertaking and put in place suitable arrangements to either prevent or control those risks. Such a risk assessment would need to be carried out for workers renovating or demolishing buildings to enable suitable controls to be put in place for any hazardous substances that may be present or that may be produced, including MMMFs. HSE provides guidance, to help businesses comply with their legal duties. The regulatory framework, supported by guidance, is sufficient to control occupational exposure to MMMFs.

Personal Independence Payment: County Durham

Grahame Morris: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, what steps she is taking to reduce the 12-week waiting time for a mandatory reconsideration for personal independence payments in County Durham.

Justin Tomlinson: We always aim to make the right decision as early as we can. The MR process was introduced as an opportunity to review the original decision and consider any additional evidence provided by the claimant since the original decision was made.There has been an increase in outstanding PIP MR clearance times in recent months. Measures to reduce the number of outstanding MRs include:Age profiles of outstanding work are managed at a national level to ensure that cases which have been outstanding for longest are actioned first.Resource levels dedicated to the clearance of MRs have been regularly reviewed with significant recruitment, training and redeployment undertaken to support reduced clearance times.MR is a key element of the decision making process for both the Department and claimants, and whilst ensuring they make quality decisions, decision makers work hard to clear applications without delay. Gathering the right evidence is critical at the MR stage if decisions are not to go to appeal; and we are reviewing our processes to not only obtain this, but to do so whilst continuing to make decisions timeously.

Personal Independence Payment: Terminal Illnesses

Ben Bradley: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, how many claimants awarded personal independence payment under the special rules for terminal illness made an advanced new claim towards the end of their existing award in each of the last five years; and how many of those claimants had motor neurone disease.

Justin Tomlinson: The information requested is not readily available and to provide it would incur disproportionate cost.

State Retirement Pensions: Females

Patrick Grady: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, if she will publish a response to Early Day Motion 2390, Pensions for women born in the 1950s.

Guy Opperman: The approach of Labour, Conservative and the Coalition governments for the last 24 years since the 1995 pensions Act is the same. This Government’s position on the changes to State Pension age (SPa) remains clear and consistent.We have considered the alternative options offered by stakeholders and found there are substantial practical, financial and legal problems to all alternative options offered by stakeholders so far to mitigate the impact on those affected. During the passage of the 2011 Act, the Government listened to the concerns of those affected and subsequently introduced a concession worth £1.1 billion in order to limit the impact on those women who would be most affected by the changes. In the years after the 1995 legislation, equalisation was frequently reported in the media and debated at length in Parliament. The changes were communicated in a variety of ways, for example with leaflets, extensive advertising campaigns were carried out and later individual letters were posted out. Throughout this period, the Department has also provided individuals with their most up-to-date State Pension age when they have requested a Pension statement. Between April 2000 and the end of April 2019, the Department provided more than 28 million personalised State Pension statements to people who requested them (either online or by telephone or post). We continue to encourage people to request a personalised State Pension Statement as part of our on-going communications. This matter has been comprehensively debated on many occasions in Parliament, and any amendment to the current legislation which creates a new inequality between men and women would be highly dubious as a matter of law. The Government has no plans to publish a response to EDM 2390.

Universal Credit

Carol Monaghan: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, what the estimated total cost to the public purse has been of payments made to claimants of universal credit that did not receive the severe disability premium as a result of natural migration.

Justin Tomlinson: The requested information is not available. It is not possible to confirm exactly how many people in receipt of the Severe Disability Premium (SDP) will receive back payments following their natural migration to Universal Credit. Each case must be individually assessed to determine whether SDP eligibility would have continued following the end of their legacy benefit claim. On Friday 3 May 2019, the High Court handed down a judgment in relation to Universal Credit and the SDP. We are currently considering the options open to us and will respond in due course.

Employment and Support Allowance

Carol Monaghan: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, what estimate he has made of the cost to the public purse of employment support allowance back-payments owed to claimants.

Justin Tomlinson: Latest published forecasts of arrears owed to ESA claimants underpaid on conversion from Incapacity Benefit are available here:https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/esa-underpayments-forecast-numbers-affected-forecast-expenditure-and-progress-on-checking/esa-underpayments-forecast-numbers-affected-forecast-expenditure-and-progress-on-checking The most recent published information on arrears already paid to claimants affected by underpayments on conversion from Incapacity Benefit is available here:https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/esa-underpayments-forecast-numbers-affected-forecast-expenditure-and-progress-on-checking/may-2019-esa-underpayments-progress-on-checking

Personal Independence Payment

Carol Monaghan: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, what estimate he has made of the cost to the public purse of personal independence back-payments owed to claimants.

Justin Tomlinson: The information requested is not collated centrally and could only be provided at disproportionate cost.

Social Security Benefits

Carol Monaghan: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, how much her Department owes in social security benefit back-payments to claimants as a result of errors made by her Department.

Will Quince: The information requested is not collated centrally and could only be provided at disproportionate cost.

Social Security Benefits

Carol Monaghan: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, how much her Department owes in social security benefit back-payments to claimants as a result of tribunals or High Court judgments finding in favour of such claimants.

Will Quince: The information requested is not collated centrally and could only be provided at disproportionate cost.

Universal Credit

Alan Brown: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, pursuant to the Answer of 17 June 2019 to Question 263186 on Universal Credit, what the timeframe is for the (a) Landlord portal going live and (b) platform within the Landlord portal to enable social landlords to notify his Department of annual rent increases.

Will Quince: The Department maintains guidance on GOV.UK, relevant for private and social sector landlords, with information about Universal Credit including the landlord portal which has existed since 2017. This can be accessed at: www.gov.uk/government/publications/universal-credit-and-rented-housing--2/universal-credit-and-rented-housing-guide-for-landlords The Department will deliver improvements which include: (a) an online form for all landlords to request a managed payment for rent from Universal Credit, and (b) an upload facility for social landlords to notify annual rent changes via the existing landlord portal. Both systems are expected to be fully operational by the end of 2019 following completion of rigorous testing.

Social Security Benefits: Veterans

Paul Farrelly: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, with reference to the Forces in Mind Trust report entitled Social security benefits and transitions from military to civilian life, published in June 2019, what steps she is taking to ensure that her officials are given adequate training to support ex-service personnel with their benefit claims.

Will Quince: DWP equips our people with a variety of training to help them serve and support all clients who have complex needs, including ex-service personnel, to make claims to all DWP. We attach a great deal of importance to meeting our commitments under the Armed Forces Covenant and we were pleased to see that the report recognised some of the excellent work undertaken by DWP staff to support veterans. We have also already made a number of improvements. In February 2019 we launched a refreshed job description for the Armed Forces Champion (AFC) which sets out what is expected of an AFC, the key relationships they need to form and other useful resources available to them. The Armed Forces Champions ensure the support, advice and guidance offered by Jobcentre Plus reflects the needs of service leavers and the wider armed forces community in their district. Information about benefits is freely available on GOV.UK and many of our AFC work directly with military bases to provide additional information. Work Coaches in every Jobcentre have all the information they need to offer a tailored service to all claimants and have access to a District Provision Tool which outlines sources of help and provision available locally, including support specific to service leavers.The Department’s learning products emphasise the importance of treating each claimant as an individual in order to identify and meet their specific needs, whatever they may be. There is also further DWP learning addressing the broader awareness, skills and behaviours required when dealing with all those transitioning from military to civilian life. We keep our training under review and are always open to ideas and considerations on how to improve the services we offer.

Department for Work and Pensions: CTF Partners

Deidre Brock: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, whether her (a) Department and (b) Department's agencies have entered into contracts with CTF Partners since 2015.

Will Quince: There are no contracts held in the Departments eProcurement system with CTF Partners.

Jobcentres: Stanley

Mr Kevan Jones: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, if he will evaluate the provision of disabled access at Stanley jobcentre in County Durham.

Justin Tomlinson: Facilities are available and adjustments have been made that ensure that Stanley Jobcentre has access for claimants who are disabled. These include ramps, automatic sliding doors, private interview rooms and services available on the ground floor level.

Fertilisers: Safety

David Simpson: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, what steps her Department is taking to advise farmers on safety measures when spreading fertiliser.

Justin Tomlinson: The Health and Safety Executive (HSE) has responsibility for the regulation of health and safety standards on Great Britain’s farms. Fertiliser is typically spread with machinery which is mounted or trailed behind tractors and powered by the tractor’s power take-off (PTO) drive shaft. HSE has published guidance on how to safely use machinery of this type, this includes safe use of tractors, safe use of work equipment, machinery maintenance and working on slopes, all of which is available from the HSE website at http://www.hse.gov.uk/agriculture/index.htm .HSE also works with the farming industry through the Farm Safety Partnerships to promote vehicle and machinery safety messages, including those relevant to fertiliser spreading.

Universal Credit

Jo Stevens: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, what the implications for her Department's policies on universal credit assessment period and earned income are of the High Court judgment of 11 January 2019 in R (on the application of Johnson and others) v Secretary of State For Work and Pensions.

Alok Sharma: The judgment affects a small number of people on Universal Credit, with specific characteristics. The Department is currently appealing this judgment, and as such will await the outcome of that process before taking any further action. Universal Credit takes earnings into account in a way that is fair and transparent. The amount of Universal Credit paid reflects, as closely as possible, the actual circumstances of a household during each monthly assessment period, including any earnings reported by the employer during the assessment period, regardless of when they were paid, or which month they relate to. Assessment periods allow for Universal Credit awards to be adjusted on a monthly basis, ensuring that if claimants’ incomes fall, they do not have to wait several months for a rise in their Universal Credit award. Claimants can discuss queries about how fluctuating income affects Universal Credit with their case managers and work coaches, who can also signpost to services appropriate to individual circumstances.

Migrant Workers: Qualifications

Chris Ruane: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, with reference to the IPPR report Measuring the benefits of integration: The value of tackling skills underutilisation published 18 June 2019, what assessment her Department has made of the number of migrants in the UK employed in positions for which they are overqualified.

Alok Sharma: The Department for Work and Pensions has indicated that it will not be possible to answer this question within the usual time period. An answer is being prepared and will be provided as soon as it is available.

Children: Maintenance

Jim Shannon: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, what steps the  Child Maintenance and Enforcement Commission is taking to retrieve money owed by absent parents.

Will Quince: The Child Maintenance Service (CMS) replaced the Child Maintenance and Enforcement Commission in 2012 and brought significant reforms to the Child Maintenance system in Great Britain. Child Maintenance in Northern Ireland is a devolved issue, although they run a broadly similar scheme. Any questions should be directed to the Department for Communities in Northern Ireland. We support separated parents to make their own family based arrangements wherever possible. This allows families to create flexible arrangements that work for their individual circumstances and, where parents are able to work together, this can be better for their children. Where this is not possible, the CMS offers an effective and efficient statutory scheme for those parents who really need it. Under the statutory scheme, where paying parents fail to pay on time and in full, we aim to take immediate action to recover the debt and re-establish compliance. Where compliance is not achieved we are committed to using our wide ranging enforcement powers proportionally, and in the best interests of children and separated families.

Personal Independence Payment

Kirsty Blackman: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, what estimate she has made of the average time taken to reach an outcome for mandatory re-considerations of personal independence payment applications.

Justin Tomlinson: Statistics on the average clearance time for Mandatory Reconsiderations (MR) for Personal Independence Payment are found in Table 7C, ‘MR Clearance Time (median calendar days), Normal Rules, by month of clearance’ of the quarterly statistical publication ‘Personal Independence Payment: April 2013 to April 2019’ published by the Department for Work and Pensions and available here: https://www.gov.uk/government/statistics/personal-independence-payment-april-2013-to-april-2019

Universal Credit

Frank Field: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, pursuant to the Answer of 18 June 2019 to Question 264329, of the 0.749 million claimants with deductions from universal credit for non-universal credit debts, how much debt has been repaid from each benefit in the Prescribed Social Security Benefits / Payments category.

Alok Sharma: The table below details the amount recovered from Universal Credit to repay non-Universal Credit overpayments in 2018-19. To provide a full picture we have included recovery of all benefit related debt including such things as non UC Advances and Tax Credit recoveries even though these are not strictly prescribed payments.BenefitAmount RecoveredAttendance Allowance£1,000Administrative Penalty£537,000Bereavement Allowance£3,000Carers Allowance£1,541,000Civil Penalties £1,090,000Disability Living Allowance£281,000Disability Working AllowanceLess than £1,000Employment & Support Allowance£2,988,000Family Credit£1,000Housing Benefit£11,198,000Incapacity Benefit£368,000Industrial Injuries Disablement Benefit£1,000Income Support£8,479,000Invalidity BenefitLess than £1,000Jobseeker's Allowance£3,987,000Maternity Allowance£13,000Non-Contributory Retirement PensionLess than £1,000New State PensionLess than £1,000Pension Credit£11,000Personal Independence Payment£64,000Retirement Pension: Contributory£2,000Sickness Benefit£1,000Severe Disablement Allowance£12,000Social Fund Loan£27,014,000Social Fund Overpayment£239,000Non - Universal Credit short term advances£1,546,000Tax Credit Overpayment£94,722,000Widow's Benefit£70,000Widowed Mother's AllowanceLess than £1,000Widows Pension£1,000Widowed Parent's Allowance£3,000Christmas Bonus£1,000Other£3,000  The Department works hard to prevent potential benefit overpayments from occurring. Internal and external data matches are increasingly helping inform benefit payments and alerting staff to check for any undeclared changes in people’s circumstances in real time.*The data provided in this response has been sourced from internal management information and was not intended for public release. It should therefore not be compared to any other, similar data subsequently released by the Department. All figures have been rounded to the nearest thousand.

Pension Credit

Shabana Mahmood: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, what recent steps she has taken to increase the uptake of pension credit.

Guy Opperman: The Government is committed to ensuring that older people receive the support they are entitled to and the DWP targets activity on engaging with people who may be eligible to benefits at pivotal stages, such as when they claim State Pension or report a change in their circumstances. The DWP uses a wide range of channels to communicate information about benefits to potential customers; including information on https://gov.uk/, in leaflets and by telephone. DWP staff in Pension Centres and Jobcentres including visiting officers are able to provide help and advice about entitlement to benefits, as are staff in Local Authorities who administer Housing Benefit. Potential customers can use the Pension Credit https://www.gov.uk/pension-credit-calculator to check if they are likely to be eligible and get an estimate of what they may receive. People wishing to claim Pension Credit can do so by calling 0800 99 1234. One of the best ways to reach eligible customers is through trusted stakeholder working in the community and we have developed the Pension Credit toolkit, as an on-line tool for agencies and welfare rights organisations to use in order to encourage Pension Credit take-up. It can be found at: https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/pension-credit-toolkit The toolkit contains resources for anyone working with pensioners and includes guides to Pension Credit. It also contains publicity material and guidance designed to help older people understand how they could get Pension Credit and help organisations support someone applying for Pension Credit as well as ideas for encouraging take-up. The toolkit also provides links to information about disability and carers benefits. Most recently we have provided to relevant organisations a fact sheet about Pension Credit and the recent changes for mixed age couples to ensure that accurate information is available in the places where people are most likely to seek information.

Work Capability Assessment

Mr Jim Cunningham: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, what assessment she has made of the adequacy of training for fit-to-work assessors to assess a person's mental health.

Justin Tomlinson: All Healthcare Professionals receive training on how to assess the impact of mental health conditions on individuals. This is followed by on-going professional training and support which continues for the duration of their employment in the role. In addition, Mental Health Function Champions support Healthcare Professionals by providing additional expertise about mental health, cognitive, developmental and learning disabilities and can be referred to at any time during the assessment process.Health Assessment Providers frequently engage with medical experts, charities and relevant stakeholders to strengthen, review and update training programmes for all their assessment staff.

Work Capability Assessment: Veterans

Mr Jim Cunningham: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, what assessment he has made of the adequacy of training for fit-to-work assessors for military veterans.

Justin Tomlinson: Military Veterans who claim Employment and Support Allowance/Universal Credit are likely to have a variety of health conditions both physical and mental health related. Healthcare Professionals undertaking work capability assessments are equipped to identify the impact of these conditions as part of the existing assessment process.All Healthcare Professionals carrying out work capability assessments are medically qualified and highly-trained practitioners in their own field. They are subject to a rigorous recruitment process followed by a comprehensive training programme in disability assessment. The assessment is not a medical assessment requiring the Healthcare Professional to diagnose a condition and recommend treatment options. The focus is on ensuring Healthcare Professionals are experts in disability analysis, drawing on evidence supplied by the individual and their GP or specialist clinical team, with knowledge of the likely functional effects of a wide range of health conditions.While preparing to undertake an assessment, Healthcare Professionals can access a wide range of clinical resources to research any conditions presented. This includes evidence based protocols, e-learning modules or case studies as well as keeping knowledge up to date through Continuous Professional Development.

Universal Credit: Veterans

Mr Jim Cunningham: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, what estimate his Department has made of the number of military veterans claiming universal credit that have been sanctioned.

Alok Sharma: The Department has not made an estimate of the number of military veterans claiming universal credit that have been sanctioned because this information is not held.

Employment: Poverty

Mr Jim Cunningham: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, what estimate her Department has made of the number of people in employment that live in poverty.

Will Quince: National statistics on the number of working-age adults, in a family with at least one adult in work, in low income can be calculated from figures published in the annual "Households Below Average Income" publication. In 2017/18 there were 2.9m working-age adults in absolute low income (before housing costs) in families with at least one adult in work. However, over 80% of these are from families where at least one adult is not in full-time employment. The majority of those in in-work poverty are in families with part-time work only, single earner couples, or are self-employed.

State Retirement Pensions

Mr Gregory Campbell: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, what estimate the Government has made of the change in the number of people in receipt of the basic state pension between 2019 and 2024.

Guy Opperman: The new State Pension was introduced in 2016 for people reaching State Pension age on or after the 6th April 2016. The new State Pension replaced the basic State Pension and additional State Pension, which means that no one reaching State Pension age on or after the 6th April 2016 will have claimed the basic State Pension or additional State Pension. The forecasted caseloads for the new State Pension and basic State Pension between 2019/20 and 2023/24 can be found in the table below. Forecasted caseloads of new State Pension and basic State Pension from 2019-2024, figures in 1000s Category of pension2019/202020/212021/222022/232023/24Basic State Pension11,10110,62710,1589,6929,225New State Pension (excluding protected payments)1,2821,6652,2862,9423,623New State Pension Protected Payments (including inherited elements)371457596739888 These figures can be found here: https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/benefit-expenditure-and-caseload-tables-2019 Figures relate to Great Britain, or people resident overseas who are receiving United Kingdom benefits.

Employment: Chronic Fatigue Syndrome

Stephen Morgan: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, what recent steps she has taken to support people with Myalgic Encephalomyelitis in the workplace.

Justin Tomlinson: Access to Work offers practical and financial support with the additional costs faced by individuals whose health or disability affects the way they do their job, including people with Myalgic Encephalomyelitis (ME).Although we do not disaggregate data for people with Myalgic Encephalomyelitis in the Access to Work statistics, last year we published ‘Access to Work: Qualitative research with applicants, employers and delivery staff’, which included a case study for an applicant with ME. The individual in question returned to employment in a call centre role after 10 years off due to ill-health. Through Access to Work, they received a suitable chair and keyboard, which greatly reduced the joint pain they had been experiencing and enabled them to stay in the new role.

Employment: Chronic Fatigue Syndrome

Stephen Morgan: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, what steps she is taking to ensure that job centre staff are aware of the effect of myalgic encephalomyelitis on an individual's ability to work.

Justin Tomlinson: The Department is committed to ensuring all claimants have access to the right tailored support when they need it. Work Coaches are trained to adjust conditionality to reflect individual circumstances, particularly those with caring responsibilities or health conditions.

Television: Licensing

Clive Lewis: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, what the cost to the public purse was of providing free television licences to people over the age of 75 for qualifying residents in Norwich South constituency in (a) 2017-18 and (b) 2018-19.

Guy Opperman: The Department for Work and Pensions has indicated that it will not be possible to answer this question within the usual time period. An answer is being prepared and will be provided as soon as it is available.

Television: Licensing

Paul Farrelly: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, what the cost to the public purse was of providing free television licences to people over the age of 75 for qualifying residents in (a) Newcastle-under-Lyme constituency and (b) Staffordshire local authority area in (i) 2017-18 and (ii) 2018-19.

Guy Opperman: The Department for Work and Pensions has indicated that it will not be possible to answer this question within the usual time period. An answer is being prepared and will be provided as soon as it is available.

Television: Licensing

Marion Fellows: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, what the cost to the public purse was of providing free television licences to people over the age of 75 for qualifying residents in (a) the Motherwell and Wishaw constituency and (b) North Lanarkshire local authority area in (i) 2017-18 and (ii) 2018-19.

Guy Opperman: The Department for Work and Pensions has indicated that it will not be possible to answer this question within the usual time period. An answer is being prepared and will be provided as soon as it is available.

Young People: Gender

Paul Farrelly: To ask the Minister for Women and Equalities, with reference to the Youth Voice Census Report 2019, published in June 2018, what assessment she has made of the effect of gender on a young person's level of engagement with school and employment.

Alok Sharma: No assessment has been made of gender on a young person’s level of engagement with school and employment. However, the Government is committed to providing targeted support for all young people so that everyone, no matter what their start in life, is given the very best chance. The Government has raised the participation age to ensure that all young people are supported to continue their education until at least age 18, and invested nearly £7 billion during academic year 2018/19, to ensure there is a place in education or training for every 16 to 19-year old. Local Authorities (LAs) have a statutory duty to identify and track the participation of 16 and 17 year olds, supporting those who are not participating to do so and making sure that there is sufficient, suitable education and training provision to meet their needs. The September Guarantee places a further duty on LAs to ensure that all year 11 pupils (and year 12 pupils on one year courses) receive an offer of a place in education/training for the following September. It aims to ensure that all young people, regardless of what they achieved in school, understand that there are opportunities that will help them to progress, and to ensure that they get the advice and support they need to find a suitable place. The latest data for the end of 2017 (provisional) shows that 86.8% of 16-18-year-old females are in Education and Training, compared to 85.1% of males. Source is the ‘Participation in education, training and employment: 2017’ published statistics. In January to March 2019 the number of young people aged 16-24 who were not in education, employment or training (NEET) in the UK was at a near record low (764,000) – down 364,000 since 2010. As part of this the number of women aged 16-24 who were NEET was at a near record low (383,000) – down 238,000 since 2010. The number of men aged 16-24 who were NEET was also near a record low – at 381,000 – down 126,000 since 2010. The latest figures from the independent ONS, show that in February-April 2019 UK employment rate is at a joint record high of 76.1% - and as part of this the female employment rate is at a record high (72.0%). The male employment rate was 80.3% - up 5.3% points since 2010.

Universal Credit

Steve McCabe: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, what proportion of claimants of universal credit with an existing advance that have successfully applied for a budgeting advance have (a) received the maximum available budgeting advance, (b) chosen to repay the budgeting advance over the maximum time period allowed and (c) repaid the budgeting advance within the pre-agreed time period.

Alok Sharma: Universal Credit new claim and benefit transfer advances provide access to a payment for those in financial need, which can be accessed on the same day, until their first UC payment is due, ensuring no one has to be left without means of financial support.A budgeting advance is available for one-off unexpected financial events for Universal Credit claimants and is repayable over a period of up to 12 monthly instalments. Claimants might be able to get help for things such as: emergency household costs, getting a job or staying in work or funeral costs.Of the Universal Credit claims repaying an existing advance:a) 8% of these claims received a budgeting advance which was the maximum amount available to themb) 13% of these claims received a budgeting advance to be paid over the maximum time period allowedc) Information regarding those budgeting advances repaid within the pre-agreed time period is not readily available, and to provide it would incur disproportionate cost. Notes:Figures relate to Universal Credit full service onlyFigures relate to claims repaying an advance between March 2018 and February 2019Figures are rounded to the nearest %Budgeting advances with a value of £348, £464 and £812 have been used for proportion of claimants receiving the maximum available advance, as the values relate to the maximum entitlement dependent on the claimant's circumstances

Universal Credit

Steve McCabe: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, pursuant to the Answer of 18 June 2019 to Question 263677 on universal credit, what recovery methods her Department uses.

Alok Sharma: Claimants are advised from the onset advances of Universal Credit are not loans. They are Universal Credit awards paid early which is then recovered over an agreed period via deductions from their Universal Credit payment. Universal Credit New Claim Advances are recovered over a maximum of 12 months, this increases to 16 months in 2021. Exceptionally, the maximum period could be deferred by up to three months. Claimants can opt to repay the advance over a shorter period. For advances made after the payment due date, the full amount is recovered immediately from arrears payable.

Universal Credit

Steve McCabe: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, how many universal credit claimants had advance payments refused for a (a) new claim and (b) benefit transfer in the last 12 months.

Alok Sharma: Universal Credit new claim advances provide access to a payment for those in financial need, which can be accessed on the same day, until their first payment is due. Claimants can access up to 100% of the total expected monthly award, for which they can pay back over a period of up to 12 months. From October 2021, this maximum repayment period will be extended from 12 to 16 months. The Department ensures claimants are made aware of their maximum advance entitlement and informed that their Universal Credit award will be adjusted over the relevant recovery period to take into account the advance of benefit they received. There were 1,046,000 claims made to Universal Credit during January to December 2018 which went into payment. Of these claims, 598,000 (57%) received an advance by end of February 2019 and 449,000 (43%) did not receive an advance. Those who did not receive an advance will include instances of advance payments being refused. However, to identify and collate the total number of applications refused for (a) new claim and (b) benefit transfer in the last 12 months would incur disproportionate cost to the Department. Notes: Figures relate to Universal Credit full serviceFigures capture all advances typesFigures are rounded to the nearest 1,000Advances paid are provided for claims which went into payment in the 2018 calendar year to ensure enough time has elapsed to be certain these claims did actually progress to payment

Shared Housing: Utilities

Rushanara Ali: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, whether the Valuation Office Agency makes a deduction for (a) water and (b) fuel from the advertised rent for a room in shared accommodation when calculating the 30 per centile of the shared accommodation rate in each broad rental market area.

Will Quince: The Rent Officers (Housing Benefit Functions) Order 1997 instructs Rent Officers how to compile the list of rents used in the calculation of local housing allowance rates (including the shared accommodation rate) and the 30th percentile of local rents for each broad rental market area. In compiling the list of rents, Rent Officers must exclude the amount of any rent which in the Rent Officer’s opinion is attributable to provision of services or facilities made available to the tenant which are ineligible to be met by Housing Benefit.

Rented Housing

Rushanara Ali: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, whether the local reference rent levels for each broad rental market area published on 30 April 2019 are based upon the median of market rents for each area.

Will Quince: The Local Reference Rent is determined in accordance with the formula set out in the Rent Officers (Housing Benefit Functions) Order 1997 for calculating a median rent. The Local Reference Rent is based upon the number of bedrooms and living rooms within the property.

Social Security Benefits: EU Nationals

Rushanara Ali: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, what guidance she has issued to her Department's decision-makers on the classification of EU nationals with indefinite leave to remain through the EU settled status scheme as habitually resident for the purposes of claiming (a) universal credit and (b) other means-tested benefits.

Alok Sharma: The relevant guidance for decision makers can be found for (a) Universal Credit in the Advice for Decision Making (ADM) memo 09/19, available at: https://assets.publishing.service.gov.uk/government/uploads/system/uploads/attachment_data/file/800793/adm9-19.pdf, and (b) other income-related benefits in the Decision Makers’ Guide (DMG) memo 06/19, available online at: https://assets.publishing.service.gov.uk/government/uploads/system/uploads/attachment_data/file/800795/dmg6-19.pdf.

Universal Credit

Steve McCabe: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, whether there is a minimum level of income that a universal credit claimant must retain after a 40 per cent reduction to repay an advance has been applied.

Steve McCabe: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, whether there is a minimum level of income that a claimant of universal credit must retain after a 40 per cent reduction to repay an advance.

Alok Sharma: There is no set minimum level Universal Credit award for a claimant to retain. A claimant’s award will reflect their individual circumstances, topping up any earnings or other income that they may have, so their Universal Credit might just constitute a small proportion of their total income. Deductions from the award are calculated in relation to the Universal Credit standard allowance and the maximum rate of deductions cannot normally exceed 40 per cent of the Universal Credit standard allowance. From October 2019 this will be reduced to 30 per cent.

Incapacity Benefit

Chris Ruane: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, what estimate she has made of the amount of funding allocated to incapacity benefit as a proportion of (a) GDP and (b) the GDP average of OECD member states, excluding the UK.

Justin Tomlinson: According to latest OECD data, the UK spent 1.85% of its GDP to support disabled people and those with health conditions. The OECD average is 1.93%.  UKOECD Average (including UK)Total (share of GDP)1.85%1.93% Source: https://stats.oecd.org/Index.aspx?datasetcode=SOCX_AGG, OECD 2015 data (latest data point).

Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs

Solid Fuels: Heating

Philip Davies: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, when he plans to publish the results of the consultation on cleaner domestic burning of solid fuels and wood in England; and if he will make a statement.

Philip Davies: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, with reference to his Department's consultation on cleaner domestic burning of solid fuels and wood in England, if he will place in the Library copies of reports and datasets on the gluing agents used in the manufacture of smokeless briquettes and the toxic pollutants these gluing agents release when burnt on open domestic fires being considered in that consultation; and if he will make a statement.

Dr Thérèse Coffey: I refer my Hon Friend to the reply previously given on 8 April 2019 to PQ 238630. Our assessments of emissions of pollutants from domestic combustion sources use a range of data but are based on established international reporting. The range of fuels and appliances used in the UK is large and emissions from each combination vary greatly depending on how the appliance is operated. Any publicly available resources we have used to inform our analysis of the proposals in the consultation will be made available with the Government response.

Packaging: Recycling

Paul Farrelly: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural affairs, what steps his Department is taking to ensure that the recycling symbol is (a) highly visible, (b) unambiguous and (c) on the front of packaging.

Dr Thérèse Coffey: On 18 February the Government published a consultation on changes to the producer responsibility regime for packaging. As part of this consultation we have proposed a mandatory UK-wide labelling scheme which would require producers to clearly label their packaging as ‘recyclable’ or ‘not-recyclable’. This proposal will ensure the packaging labelling scheme will be: (a) highly visible, (b) unambiguous and (c) on the front of packaging. The consultation closed on 13 May and we are currently analysing the responses. A summary of responses will be published in due course. The details of the proposed mandatory packaging labelling scheme, such as the design of the label, will be subject to further consultation.

Camping

Faisal Rashid: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, what plans he has to designate areas in England and Wales for wild camping.

Dr Thérèse Coffey: Access is a devolved matter and this answer relates only to England. Landowners may permit people to camp outside of designated campsites. There are no current plans for the Government to designate any areas for wild camping in England. Dartmoor National Park Authority has a map of wild camping areas.

Plastic Bags

Catherine West: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, whether he is taking steps to encourage newsagents to (a) stop using and (b) explore alternatives to plastic bags.

Dr Thérèse Coffey: Recognising the success of the 5p charge in reducing the use of plastic bags, we have consulted on proposals to extend the single use carrier bag charge to all retailers, including newsagents, and to increase the minimum charge to 10p. We aim to publish both the summary of responses and the Government position very soon.

Nappies

Catherine West: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, pursuant to the Answer of 9 May 2019 to Question 249993 on Nappies: Recycling, when the Government plans to publish its research on nappies in relation to the relative energy, water and waste impacts of the alternatives.

Dr Thérèse Coffey: We are currently engaging with those with an interest in nappies to understand developments in systems and products as well as recent industry studies which will help inform the scope of the research required. There is no estimated date for publication at this stage.

Inland Waterways and Rivers: Pollution Control

Robert Halfon: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, what steps his Department is taking to clean up rivers and waterways to ensure that they are safe habitats for (a) wildlife and (b) recreational swimmers.

Dr Thérèse Coffey: Current updated River Basin Management Plans, published in 2016, provide the framework for protecting and improving the water environment for wildlife, people and the economy for the period up to 2021. Plans for England confirm over £3 billion of investment by 2021, leading to improvements in at least 680 water bodies, with an overall target to enhance at least 5000 miles of waters by 2021. These plans will be reviewed and updated in 2021 to take account of progress that has been made and what can be achieved by 2027. Over the last two decades there have been significant improvements in water quality in rivers. Independent analysis of Environment Agency (EA) data by the University of Cardiff in 2014 showed that wildlife such as Atlantic salmon, mayflies, and dippers dependent on cleaner waters have been progressively recolonising in England's urban rivers over this 20 year period. However, there is still more to do to improve river habitats and to protect the environment from deterioration in the future. For recreational swimmers, there are over 400 locations in England formally designated as bathing waters which are managed to meet stringent water quality standards to protect health. The EA monitors these waters throughout the bathing season (May to September), investigates pollution sources and works with partners to reduce pollution risks. The EA also issues daily forecasts of bathing water during the bathing season on the internet to help inform bathers of pollution risks. In 2018, 97.9% of bathing waters met minimum standards sufficient for bathing and 67.1% met even more stringent standards.

Incinerators: Air Pollution

Dr David Drew: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, by which date municipal waste incineration sites are required to submit their emissions of (a) PM2.5 and (b) PM10 for 2018.

Dr Thérèse Coffey: The Government will request data from local authorities on both PM 2.5 and PM10 emitted from municipal waste incineration sites in June 2019. Emissions data for both must be submitted during September.

Air Pollution

Emma Reynolds: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, what estimate his Department has made of the financial resources required to meet WHO standards for fine particulate matter by 2030; and what assessment he has made of the steps taken by European cities such as Stockholm who have already met those those standards.

Dr Thérèse Coffey: The Clean Air Strategy outlined a range of measures to meet our emissions reduction commitments to 2020 and 2030. Impact assessments will evaluate the costs and benefits to public health as these specific measures are introduced. Further analysis is ongoing to estimate what additional interventions would be needed to meet World Health Organisation air quality guideline levels of PM2.5 alongside associated costs, and this additional analysis will be published in due course.

Agriculture: Biofuels

Dr David Drew: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, what discussions he has had with the Secretary of State for Transport on the potential benefits for the farming sector of the (a) introduction of E10 and (b) future use of bioethanol.

Mr Robert Goodwill: The Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs has not had any meetings with the Secretary of State for Transport on the potential benefits for the farming sector of the introduction of E10 or future use of bioethanol. In increasing targets under the Renewable Transport Fuel Obligation in April, the Government made clear that moving to E10 fuel could make achieving the UK’s renewable energy targets easier and provide wider economic benefits including in the agricultural sector. The Department for Transport ran a call for evidence last year on whether, and how best, E10 could be introduced in the UK. Any decision to introduce the new grade of petrol must balance the needs of consumers with the emissions reductions it could help to deliver. The Government will be publishing its next steps on E10 petrol later in the year.

Home Office

Police

Louise Haigh: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, what estimate he has made of the police force prices for goods and services in (a) 2015 and (b) 2016; and whether there is a policing-specific rate of inflation.

Mr Nick Hurd: The data for 2015 and 2016 has been published at https://www.police.uk and is published by individual Force.There is no police specific rate of inflation applied to the commonly bought items.

Sleeping Rough

Mr Jim Cunningham: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, what estimate his Department has made of the number of time dispersal orders used by the police to clear homeless camps in the last year.

Mr Nick Hurd: We introduced the dispersal power through the Anti-social, Behaviour, Crime and Policing Act 2014 to enable the police to disperse anti-social individuals for up to 48 hours. The legislation requires the officer authorising use of the power to be satisfied on reasonable grounds that it is necessary to remove or reduce the likelihood of people being harassed, alarmed or distressed or the occurrence of crime or disorder.Data on how many times the dispersal power has been used is not collated centrally.

Educational Testing Service: Standards

Stephen Timms: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, what assessment his Department made of the reliability of ETS’s validation systems before awarding that company a licence to deliver the TOEIC English language test in 2011.

Caroline Nokes: The licence which allowed TOEIC English language testing to be used for immigration purposes was awarded following a tendering process. As part of this process the Home Office assessed both the equivalence of each tester's English test to a recognised European Standard and security arrangements around testing.Details of the security requirements which ETS Global BV were bound to adhere to were provided to the HASC in August 2016. A copy of these requirements can be found at Annex C of http://data.parliament.uk/writtenevidence/committeeevidence.svc/evidencedocument/home-affairs-committee/english-language-testing/written/36543.pdf

Human Trafficking

Gavin Robinson: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, with reference to the first successful use of the statutory defence under section 22 of the Human Trafficking and Exploitation Act (NI) by an individual who had been found not to be a victim of human trafficking by the Home Office under the NRM process, if the Home Office will review how it handles such cases to ensure individuals found to be victims of human trafficking by the judicial system can be protected and their rights upheld.

Victoria Atkins: The criminal justice system and NRM are distinct and separate systems. Sec-tion 45 of the Modern Slavery Act 2015, which provides an equivalent statutory defence as section 22 of the Human Trafficking and Exploitation Act (NI) has recently been the subject of an independent review in the Modern Slavery Act. The Government is considering carefully how it will respond to the recommendations of the review.In addition, the Home Office already operates a process that allows negative NRM decisions to be reconsidered in light of new evidence. Reconsiderations are accepted on a case-by-case basis.

Deportation: Venezuela

Lloyd Russell-Moyle: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, how many people were deported to Venezuela in (a) 2017, (b) 2018 and (c) 2019 to date.

Lloyd Russell-Moyle: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, how many Venezuelan nationals in same-sex marriages have been deported to Venezuela since 2017.

Caroline Nokes: The number of enforced returns from the UK by year and country of destination is published in table rt_05q (returns data tables, volume 5) in ‘Immigration Statistics, year ending March 2019’, available from the GOV.uk website at: https://www.gov.uk/government/uploads/system/uploads/attachment_data/file/803187/returns5-mar-2019-tables.odsThe term 'deportations' refers to a legally-defined subset of returns which are enforced either following a criminal conviction or when it is judged that a person’s removal from the UK is conducive to the public good. Information on those deported is not separately available and therefore the published statistics refer to all enforced returns. Information for April to June 2019 will be published on 22 August 2019.The information requested on Venezuelan nationals in same-sex marriage that have been deported to Venezuela is not available in a reportable format.

Youth Endowment Fund

Louise Haigh: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, if he will list the (a) force area, (b) projects and (c) funding allocated by the Youth Endowment Fund from its inception to 18 June 2019.

Louise Haigh: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, if he will list the (a) force area, (b) project and (c) cost of each of the rejected bids to the Youth Endowment Fund from its inception to 18 June 2019.

Victoria Atkins: In March 2019, the Home Secretary announced the award of a £200m endowment to the charity Impetus, to establish the Youth Endowment Fund. Applied over ten years, the funding will be used by the Youth Endowment Fund to support interventions steering children and young people away from involvement in crime and violence and to find, generate and apply best available evidence about which approaches are most successful.The Youth Endowment Fund has been established to operate independently of Government, and publishes information about its activities here: https://impetus.org.uk/youth-endowment-fund. The £200m endowment was awarded at the end of March by way of a Grant Agreement. Since this award, Impetus has rapidly been establishing the Youth Endowment Fund’s operations and has launched its first call for proposals. This is an open call, to fund and evaluate interventions primarily targeting young people aged 10-14 who are judged to be at risk of being drawn into crime and violence. This first funding round opened on the 28 May and will close on the 23 July, at which point applications will be assessed. As such, no projects have yet been awarded funding and no bids have been rejected. Further information about this first funding round can be found here: https://www.sibgroup.org.uk/youth-endowment-fund.

Crime Prevention: Finance

Louise Haigh: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, with reference to the press release of 18 June 2019 entitled Home Office allocates £35 million to Police and Crime Commissioners in 18 local areas, whether any areas requesting funding for a violence reduction unit had their bid rejected.

Mr Nick Hurd: As announced on 18 June, the £35 million VRU funding has been provisionally allocated to Police and Crime Commissioners in 18 local areas experiencing the highest volumes of serious violence. Funding has provisionally been allocated with reference to data on hospital admissions relating to injury with a sharp object.These areas have been notified of their provisional allocations and have been invited to submit a light-touch application form, setting out their proposals for spend. Once received, the Home Office will review applications to ensure consistency with funding requirements before the final awards are confirmed.

Home Office: CTF Partners

Deidre Brock: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, whether his (a) Department and (b) Department's agencies have entered into contracts with CTF Partners since 2015.

Caroline Nokes: Our records show that neither; (a) the Home Department, or (b) the Department’s agencies have entered into any contracts with CTF Partners since 2015.Home Office are committed to the HMT Transparency Agenda and EU Competition regulations and therefore all contract requirements and awards that exceed the EU procurement directives' financial thresholds are advertised in the Supplement to the Official Journal of the European Union (OJEU) via contract notices. Furthermore, all requirements and contract awards over £10,000 are published on Contracts Finder at this link: https://www.gov.uk/contracts-finder .

Visas: Africa

Chi Onwurah: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, which countries in Africa do not have a UK visa application centre.

Caroline Nokes: UK Visa & Immigration can confirm 23 countries do not have a UK Visa application and customers are advised to apply in an alternative location:Benin, Burkina Faso, Burundi, Cape Verde, Chad, Comoros, Congo, Djibouti, Equatorial Guinea, Eritrea, Gabon, Guinea, Guinea Bissau, Lesotho, Liberia, Mali, Mauritania, Niger, Sao Tome & Principe, Seychelles, Somalia, Swaziland and Togo

Visas: Africa

Chi Onwurah: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, which countries in Africa have a UK visa application centre which is not open each working day.

Caroline Nokes: Opening times of Visa Application Centres are determined by volumes of applications. The vast majority of Visa Application Centres are open every working day with the exception of the following; Gambia, Cameroon, Senegal, Ivory Coast, Madagascar, Mauritius, Angola and Democratic Republic of the Congo.

Independent Office for Police Conduct

Vernon Coaker: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, what recent assessment he has made of the effectiveness of the work of the Independent Police Conduct Authority; and if he will make a statement.

Mr Nick Hurd: The Government commissioned an independent review of the Independent Police Complaints Commission’s governance and structure in 2015 and legislated via the Policing and Crime Act 2017 to fundamentally reform the or-ganisation, renaming it as the Independent Office for Police Conduct (IOPC). These changes came into force in January 2018.The IOPC is funded by the Home Office but carries out its functions inde-pendently, free from political interference. However, it is required by law to report on the carrying out of its functions annually to Parliament. Those annual reports include data on its performance / effectiveness and can be found https://www.policeconduct.gov.uk/who-we-are/accountability-and-performance/annual-report-and-plansThey also publish a monthly round up of performance statistics https://www.policeconduct.gov.uk/who-we-are/accountability-and-performance/annual-report-and-plans

Slavery: Victim Support Schemes

Vernon Coaker: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, what assessment he has made of the effectiveness of the safeguarding of individuals people on to the national referral mechanism.

Victoria Atkins: In October 2017, the Government announced an ambitious package of re-forms to the National Referral Mechanism (NRM), which were developed following extensive stakeholder consultationAdults who enter the NRM can receive specialist and tailored support through the Victim Care Contract, which can include accommodation, finan-cial support, assistance in accessing mental and physical health care including counselling, and access to legal support.Through robust contract management we ensure the safeguarding of victims of modern slavery. The prime contractor for the Victim Care Contract, The Salvation Army, is responsible for ensuring that all subcontracted provision meets the needs of victims. The Salvation Army conducts regular safeguarding reviews and it has a duty to escalate to the Home Office any safeguarding concerns that it finds.Furthermore, as part of the NRM reform package, we are introducing an inspection regime for accommodation provided under the Victim Care Contract. This will ensure that victims of modern slavery receive appropriate support and are effectively safeguarded while in the NRM. We are working with the Care and Quality Commission (CQC), the independent regulator of health and social care in England, to develop a rigorous inspection regime for safehouses and outreach support, which will be embedded in the new Victim Care Contract.

Hezbollah

Joan Ryan: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, what estimate his Department has made of the number of UK citizens who are members of Hezbollah.

Mr Ben Wallace: I refer the Hon. Member to the answer given on 15 January 2018, UIN 122667.

Extradition

Dr David Drew: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, what the criteria are for his signing an extradition order before the extradition case is heard in court.

Mr Nick Hurd: When deciding whether to certify an extradition request, the Secretary of State follows the following criteria as set out in Section 70 of the 2003 Extradition Act: -(1) The Secretary of State must issue a certificate under this section if he receives a valid request for the extradition to a category 2 territory of a person who is in the United Kingdom.(2) But subsection (1) does not apply if the Secretary of State decides under section 126 that the request is not to be proceeded with.(3) A request for a person’s extradition is valid if— (a) it contains the statement referred to in subsection (4), and (b) it is made in the approved way.(4) The statement is one that the person— (a) is accused in the category 2 territory of the commission of an offence specified in the request, or (b) is alleged to be unlawfully at large after conviction by a court in the cate-gory 2 territory of an offence specified in the request.(5) A request for extradition to a category 2 territory which is a British over-seas territory is made in the approved way if it is made by or on behalf of the person administering the territory.(6) A request for extradition to a category 2 territory which is the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region of the People’s Republic of China is made in the approved way if it is made by or on behalf of the government of the Re-gion.(7) A request for extradition to any other category 2 territory is made in the ap-proved way if it is made— (a) by an authority of the territory which the Secretary of State believes has the function of making requests for extradition in that territory, or (b) by a person recognised by the Secretary of State as a diplomatic or consu-lar representative of the territory.(8) A certificate under this section must certify that the request is made in the approved way.(9) If a certificate is issued under this section the Secretary of State must send these documents to the appropriate judge— (a) the request; (b) the certificate; (c) a copy of any relevant Order in Council.

Immigrants: Detainees

Frank Field: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, how many people held in a immigration detention centre (a) are recognised as victims of modern slavery and/or human trafficking and (b) claim to be victims of modern slavery and/or human trafficking.

Caroline Nokes: (a) The Home Office records the number of individuals that have received a positive Conclusive Grounds decision and this information is published quarterly by the National Crime Agency, found at http://www.nationalcrimeagency.gov.uk/publications/national-referral-mechanism-statistics. As NRM referrals, Reasonable Grounds and Conclusive Grounds decisions are considered separately from immigration enforcement action, there is no central record of those who have received a positive Conclusive Grounds decision and are detained under immigration powers. The Home Office therefore does not collate or publish the data requested(b) The Home Office record the number of all individuals referred to the National Referral Mechanism (NRM) and this information is published Quarterly by the National Crime Agency, found at http://www.nationalcrimeagency.gov.uk/publications/national-referral-mechanism-statistics. This information does not distinguish between those detained under immigration powers and those living in the community. The reason for this is two-fold, firstly because the NRM referral is not an immigration route by which individuals should regularise their stay in the United Kingdom and, secondly, because a person’s status in immigration detention is not permanent and can change.The use of immigration detention in all cases is subject to regular reviews and consequently a change in circumstance may result in a different consideration. It is quite possible that an immigration detainee is referred to the National Referral Mechanism during a detention period and is released into the community at any point during that process.

Refugees

Afzal Khan: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, with reference to the global resettlement scheme announced on 17 June 2019, whether refugees entering under that scheme will be granted (a) indefinite leave to remain, (b) refugee status, with five years of leave attached or (c) another form of leave.

Afzal Khan: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, what plans he has to continue to resettle 5,000 refugees a year after 2021.

Caroline Nokes: On 17 June 2019, the Home Secretary reaffirmed the UK’s commitment to refugee resettlement by announcing a new, global scheme, which will begin in 2020 and aims to resettle in the region of 5,000 refugees in its first year of operation. It is right that we continue to offer safe and legal routes to the UK for the most vulnerable, for whom resettlement is the only durable solution.This announcement is a clear statement of intent and the department will work to secure longer-term funding for the future of resettlement through the next Spending Review. We continue to engage with international and domestic delivery partners and stakeholders as we prepare to transition to the new scheme in 2020 and work through detailed policy of the new scheme, including the form of leave to be granted to refugees arriving under it.

Passports: Gender

Yasmin Qureshi: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, with reference to the International Civil Aviation Organisation's permitting of the use of X (unspecified) on passports, for what reasons the Government does not issue non-gendered X passports for people who do not identify as either male or female.

Caroline Nokes: United Kingdom legislation only recognises two legal sexes or genders; male and female. There is no legal recognition of a third gender. Her Majesty’s Passport Office can therefore only issue passports indicating ‘male’ or ‘female’.The Government is aware of an increasing number of people who identify as neither exclusively male nor female. We have committed to carrying out a call for evidence on the experiences of people who have a non-binary gender identity. The evidence gathered from this exercise will inform the Government’s next steps in this area.

Refugee Week

Sir Mark Hendrick: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, what activities he (a) has taken and (b) will take part in to highlight Refugee Week 2019.

Caroline Nokes: The UK government is committed to humanitarian efforts to support refugees at home and abroad.On Monday 17 June, at the start of Refugee Week, the Home Secretary announced that the UK will continue to resettle thousands of refugees under a new scheme to start in 2020. Details can be found on GOV.UK: https://www.gov.uk/government/news/new-global-resettlement-scheme-for-the-most-vulnerable-refugees-announcedOn the same day, the Home Secretary chaired a roundtable with faith leaders to discuss refugee resettlement and asylum matters; and the Minister of State for Immigration met with refugees, community sponsor groups and representatives from Lambeth Council to hear their experiences of resettlement.

Biometric Residence Permits

Patrick Grady: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, how much his Department has received in fees from super priority service for a biometric residence permit  replacement in each of the last five years.

Caroline Nokes: The Home Office does record fees for Biometric Residence Permit applications and extensions, including the super-priority Biometric Resident Permit replacement service.However the Home Office does not record payments received for this service separately to a unique account code within our accounting software. Consequently there is no available management information to break down the income into this specific category.

Immigrants: Detainees

Paul Farrelly: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, what recent assessment he has made of the merits of introducing a statutory time-limit on the detention of people in immigration removal centres.

Caroline Nokes: As Stephen Shaw noted in his follow up review of the welfare of vulnerable people in immigration detention, the debate on a time limit for immigration de-tention rests mainly on slogans rather than evidence. My Rt Hon. Friend, the Home Secretary commissioned an internal review of how time limits work in other countries and how these relate to any other protections within the detention systems in those countries. This has shown that few other countries adopt very short time limits and that many countries face similar challenges to the UK when it comes to returning those who have no right to remain but re-fuse to leave voluntarily.We are continuously seeking ways to improve the detention system to ensure that it is fair to those who may be detained, upholds our immigration policies, and acts as a deterrent to those who might seek to frustrate those policies.

Biometric Residence Permits

Patrick Grady: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, what assessments his Department carried out in determining that £800 was an appropriate fee for the super priority service for a replacement biometric residence permit.

Caroline Nokes: An application fee for the replacement of a biometric residence permit (BRP) is £56 and uptake of the super premium service in addition to this is completely optional.The super premium service is an optional service to expedite the application process if an applicant needs a decision within one working day and is available to various types of immigration applications for a fixed fee. As such, £800 was set to reflect the benefits of the service offered, alongside the need to run an effective BIC System. As an optional service applying to a variety of immigration applications it has not had a separate Impact Assessment.Fees are usually reviewed on an annual basis, with a view to providing resources necessary to running the Border Immigration and Citizenship system.

Visas: English Language

Stephen Timms: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, of the 22,694 individuals that the Home Office has identified ETS has limited confidence in the validity of their TOEIC test due to administrative irregularity, how many re-applied for their visas with a new secure English language test.

Caroline Nokes: Whilst ETS notified the Home Office of 22,694 questionable UK test certificates, the actual number where it was relevant to require a fresh test and an interview with a Home Office official was much smaller.The exact information requested is not held centrally and could only be provided at disproportionate cost.

Overseas Students: English Language

Stephen Timms: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, how many students received a section 10 notice as a result of being accused of cheating in the TOEIC English language test.

Caroline Nokes: The exact information requested is not held centrally by the Home Office. UKVI transparency data provides details of refusal, curtailments and removal decisions on those linked to the abuse of secure English language testing. A link to the most recent available data is provided here;https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/temporary-and-permanent-migration-data-february-2017The table in SELT_02 is the closest match to the information requestedThe data was last published in February 2017 and only contains data to the last quarter (December 2016). ETS data is no longer published after this date.

Islamic Resistance Support Organization and Hezbollah

Joan Ryan: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, what assessment he has made of the relationship between Hezbollah and the Islamic Resistance Support Organisation.

Mr Ben Wallace: I refer the Hon. Member to the answer given on 15 January 2018, UIN 122667.

Scotland Office

Food Banks: Scotland

David Linden: To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland, whether he plans to visit a food bank in June 2019.

David Mundell: I currently have no plans to visit a food bank in my capacity as Secretary of State for Scotland in June 2019.

Attorney General

Rape: Prosecutions

Nick Thomas-Symonds: To ask the Attorney General, what proportion of reported rape cases that were passed to the Crown Prosecution Service by the police forces of England and Wales were returned to the police for further evidence to be gathered in 2017-18.

Lucy Frazer: Rape is a horrific crime which has a significant and profound impact on victims. It is vital to ensure that cases are investigated thoroughly in order to bring them to justice. To achieve this, it is necessary in many cases to seek further information before a prosecutor is able to determine whether or not to charge. This process ensures that cases are as robust as possible once they reach the court.In 2017-18, cases were referred back to the Police for 61% of suspects in cases recorded as rape in the system. Whilst one situation where the CPS may refer a case back to the Police is to request further evidence, it could also be in instances when the Police have sought ‘early investigative advice’ from the CPS to assist in determining the evidence required for a charge. It is not possible to separate cases where the CPS has requested further evidence and when the Police have sought early investigative advice.

Rape: Prosecutions

Nick Thomas-Symonds: To ask the Attorney General, what proportion of reported rape cases in 2017-18 passed to the CPS by the police forces of England and Wales were returned to the police for further evidence to be gathered, and were not subsequently returned to the CPS with that further evidence.

Lucy Frazer: The CPS recognises that rape and serious sexual offences have a significant and profound impact on victims. It is vital to ensure that cases are investigated thoroughly in order to bring them to justice. To achieve this, it is necessary in many cases to seek further information before a prosecutor is able to determine whether or not to charge. In such cases, an action plan requesting further evidence will be provided to the police by the CPS. When the Police are unable to respond to the action plan, the case is administratively finalised. This is an administrative process where cases are closed on the CPS’s Case Management System if, after reminders from the CPS, the Police do not submit further information. Such cases may be reopened if, at a later date, new material is provided to the CPS by the Police enabling them to decide whether to charge. The Police may also seek ‘early investigative advice’ from the CPS to assist in determining the evidence required for a charge. In these cases the CPS may also administratively finalise a case if after receiving CPS advice, the Police do not re-submit the case. In 2017/18, 22% of all rape cases referred to the CPS were administratively finalised.

Rape: Prosecutions

Louise Haigh: To ask the Attorney General, how many cases of alleged rape were referred to the CPS in each year since 2015-16, and in how many of those cases the CPS pressed charges in each of those years; and what the (a) average, (b) shortest and (c) longest period of time between referral and charging was for those cases.

Lucy Frazer: Rape is a serious sexual offence which has a profound impact on victims. The CPS works closely with the Police to ensure that cases are thoroughly investigated before charges are brought because it is in the interests of both victims and perpetrators that cases do not collapse mid-trial. Cases involving rape and serious sexual offences are some of the most challenging, complex cases that the CPS deals with. They involve very little corroborative evidence in comparison with other cases, and this can result them taking longer to progress through the system. However, the CPS recognises that these offences are devastating crimes that have a significant impact on victims. The CPS maintains a record of the average number of days taken from referral through to a decision to charge. This data can be seen at annex A. However data is not held on the shortest or longest number of days from submission of a rape case by the police to the CPS through to the date of the decision to charge. There are a number of reasons for the steady increase in the average number of days and average number of consultations per case since 2015/16. Police are now more regularly encouraged to seek ‘early investigative advice’ to help determine what evidence is required for charge more often. Early investigative advice helps to ensure that cases are thoroughly investigated and the evidence to be brought before the court is strong. As a result, the CPS is more often involved at an earlier stage in proceedings which impacts on the average number of consultations and overall timeliness. There has also been an increase in the complexity of rape cases investigated by the police. Investigations often involve large amounts of electronic material (social media, emails, text messages, video and photographs) which needs to be reviewed by prosecutors before a charging decision can be made. This also impacts on the average number of consultations and timeliness of the pre-charge stage of the case. 



Annex A
(Word Document, 13.52 KB)

Sexual Offences: Prosecutions

Louise Haigh: To ask the Attorney General, how many Rape and Serious Sexual Offences prosecutors have been available to make Crown Prosecution Service charging decisions in each year since 2015.

Lucy Frazer: Rape and serious sexual assault offence (RASSO) cases are among the most sensitive and complex cases prosecuted by the CPS, and they have a profound impact on victims. To address this, CPS has undertaken extensive work over the last decade to ensure that specialist prosecutors are fully equipped to deal with the particular complexities of rape cases. The vast majority of RASSO cases are handled by specialist prosecutors working in either dedicated Area RASSO units or the dedicated CPS charging service CPS Direct. The first dedicated Area RASSO Units were established in 2014. The number of RASSO unit prosecutors and CPS Direct Prosecutors is displayed at Annex A. A small number of rape and serious sexual offence cases are dealt with by RASSO trained specialist prosecutors in the Central Casework Divisions (CCDs). It is not possible to provide year on year numbers of RASSO trained specialist prosecutors in the CCDs. 



Annex A
(Word Document, 14.17 KB)

Sexual Offences: Prosecutions

Louise Haigh: To ask the Attorney General, how many and what proportion of rape and serious sexual offence cases did not result in CPS charging advice (a) within 28 days, (b) within 2 months, (c) within 3 months, (d) within 4 months, (e) within 5 months, (f) in over 6 months and (g) in over 12 months of being referred to the CPS by the police in each of the last five years.

Lucy Frazer: Rape and serious sexual offences are devastating crimes that have a profound impact on victims. Cases involving rape and serious sexual offences are some of the most challenging and complex cases that the CPS deals with. They involve very little corroborative evidence in comparison with other cases which can result in them taking longer to progress through the system. Where evidence submitted by the Police is sufficient to bring charges, the CPS will not hesitate to prosecute. The CPS works closely with the Police to ensure that cases are thoroughly investigated before charges are brought because it is in the interests of both victims and perpetrators that cases do not collapse mid-trial. The CPS does not maintain a record of the number of days between referral and a non-charging outcome. However, the CPS does maintain a record of the average number of days taken from referral through to a decision to charge, and this data can be found in answer 266848.

Cabinet Office

Civil Servants: Sick Leave

Jo Stevens: To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office, what information his Department holds on the amount of sick leave taken by civil servants in 2018.

Oliver Dowden: The Cabinet Office collects sickness absence information from Civil Service departments and agencies on a quarterly basis. The Civil Service sickness absence data is published annually. The latest publication is for Q1 2018, published 30 May 2019 and is available online: https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/civil-service-sickness-absence. This data shows civil servants took an average of 6.9 sick days over the period – significantly lower than the level seen in the wider public sector.

Public Service Day

Peter Kyle: To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office, what plans the Government has to support Public Service Day on the 23 June 2019.

Oliver Dowden: The civil service looks to recognise the success and contribution of its staff throughout the year. There are currently no plans to organise events to support Public Service Day.

Public Service Day

Peter Kyle: To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office, what events the Government has organised to celebrate Public Service Day on 23 June 2019.

Oliver Dowden: The civil service looks to recognise the success and contribution of its staff throughout the year. There are currently no plans to organise events to support Public Service Day.

Freedom of Information Act 2000

Grahame Morris: To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office, if he will extend the Freedom of Information Act to include (a) tenants management organisations and (b) housing associations.

Kevin Foster: The Government agrees that landlords, including housing associations, should be accountable and transparent in their dealings with tenants and be responsive to their needs. The extension of the FOI to housing associations is, however, not considered the best means of achieving that. Housing Associations are already required to make a significant amount of information public. They are required to publish their accounts annually, including a strategic report covering issues such as the remunerations of key personnel. The Regulator of Social Housing, which regulates the sector, also publishes information supplied by Housing Association at individual provider level, including details of their stock holdings, rent levels and evictions.

Cabinet Office: CTF Partners

Deidre Brock: To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office, whether his (a) Department and (b) Department's agencies have entered into contracts with CTF Partners since 2015.

Oliver Dowden: Records of Government contracts above £10,000 in central government and £25,000 in the wider public sector are published on Contracts Finder: https://www.contractsfinder.service.gov.uk/Search These show no records of any contracts with CTF Partners since 2015

Alcoholic Drinks: Sales

Jo Platt: To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office, whether his Department will work with the Home Office to include proposals for identity verification for the sale of alcohol as part of the proposed Digital Identity Unit.

Oliver Dowden: The government announced the creation of a new Digital Identity Unit, a collaboration between the Cabinet Office and the Department for Digital, Culture, Media & Sport (DCMS) on 11 June. The Digital Identity Unit will work closely with other government departments. We will set out the remit of the unit in more detail in the coming weeks. The Home Office will take decisions on areas on which that Department has policy responsibility.

Licensed Premises: Closures

Jo Stevens: To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office, what estimate his Department has made of the number of (a) pubs and bars and (b) nightclubs that closed in each month in 2018.

Kevin Foster: The information requested falls within the responsibility of the UK Statistics Authority. I have asked the Authority to reply.



UKSA Response
(PDF Document, 56.34 KB)

Health: EU Countries

Chris Ruane: To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office, what assessment he has made of average wellbeing in the UK relative to other European countries.

Kevin Foster: The information requested falls within the responsibility of the UK Statistics Authority. I have asked the Authority to reply.



UKSA Response
(PDF Document, 91.25 KB)

Cabinet Office: Public Appointments

Jo Platt: To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office, whether he plans to appoint a chief data officer.

Oliver Dowden: I refer the Honourable Member to my answer given to Question 255390 on 21 May 2019.

Civil Servants

Emma Reynolds: To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office, how many civil servants are working on contingency planning in the event that the UK leaves the EU on 31 October 2019 without a negotiated deal; which Departments those civil servants are employed by; how many have been seconded to work on contingency planning in Departments which are not their principal employer; and how many civil servants were working on such plans in each month since January 2019.

Mr David Lidington: Cabinet Office does not hold this information centrally.

Political Parties: Finance

Jon Trickett: To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office, for what reason the Government has not issued a commencement order for Section 10 of the Political Parties Act 2009, in relation to non-resident donors.

Kevin Foster: Successive Governments have considered section 10 of the Political Parties and Elections Act 2009 to be unworkableThere is already a robust legal framework in place to ensure only individuals that are registered on the electoral register and organisations that carry out business in the UK canmake donations to political organisations in the UKIn May this year, the Government announced it will consult on strengthening the current provisions which protect UK politics from foreign influence. The consultation may considerrecommendations on foreign spending in elections and donations from shell companies.

Kier Group: Finance

Jon Trickett: To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office, what recent discussions his Department has had with Kier on the financial situation of that company.

Oliver Dowden: We remain in close communication with Kier’s management and will continue to discuss their proposed strategy. We continue to monitor the financial health of all of our strategic suppliers, including Kier. Kier has a large number of contracts across the private and public sector and we are confident they can continue to deliver quality public services.

Kier Group: Redundancy

Jon Trickett: To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office, what assurances his Department has received from Kier that any job losses will not affect public services or projects delivered by Kier.

Oliver Dowden: We monitor the financial health of all of our strategic suppliers, including Kier. We remain in close communication with Kier’s management and will continue to discuss their proposed strategy. Kier has a large number of contracts across the private and public sector and we are confident they can continue to deliver quality public services.

Kier Group: Redundancy

Jon Trickett: To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office, what discussions the Government has had with Kier on the effect of job redundancies at Kier on delivery of public services by that company.

Oliver Dowden: We continue to monitor the financial health of all of our strategic suppliers, including Kier. We remain in close communication with Kier’s management and will continue to discuss their proposed strategy. Kier has a large number of contracts across the private and public sector and we are confident they can continue to deliver quality public services.

Kier Group

Jon Trickett: To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office, whether Kier has indicated to his Department that it plans to terminate any of the public sector contracts it holds.

Oliver Dowden: We remain in close communication with Kier’s management and will continue to discuss their proposed strategy. Our priority is always to protect the continuity of public services.Kier has a large number of contracts across the private and public sector and we are confident they can continue to deliver quality public services.

Kier Group

Jon Trickett: To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office, whether the new rules to prevent government suppliers from winning government contracts if they do not pay their suppliers on time are now in force; and whether Kier's recent payment performance falls below the standards expected by those rules.

Oliver Dowden: From 1 September, in government procurements that are over £5m per annum and subject to the Public Contract Regulations 2015, suppliers will need to demonstrate good payment with their subcontractors. Suppliers that cannot demonstrate a fair, effective and responsible approach to payment in their supply chain should expect to be excluded from the procurement process for major government contracts. The payment performance of all large businesses, including Kier and its relevant corporate entities, is available at www.gov.uk/check-when-businesses-pay-invoices. Kier has a large number of contracts across the private and public sector and we are confident they can continue to deliver quality public services.

Treasury

Share Fishermen: Taxation

Anneliese Dodds: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, what the value was of tax debts accrued by share fishermen that were (a) repaid to and (b) written off by HMRC in each of the last seven years.

Jesse Norman: The information is not held centrally and could not be obtained without incurring disproportionate cost.

Cryptocurrencies: Regulation

Mr Gavin Shuker: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, what recent assessment he has made of the adequacy of the regulation of cryptocurrencies in the UK.

John Glen: The Government established the Cryptoassets Taskforce - comprised of HM Treasury, the FCA, and the Bank of England – to explore the risks and potential benefits of cryptoassets and consider the appropriate response. The Taskforce’s report[1] set out commitments to further consider the regulatory approach to cryptoassets. The Government has recently consulted on plans to go beyond the requirements set out in the EU’s Fifth Anti-Money Laundering Directive to bring all relevant cryptoasset firms into anti-money laundering regulation. The Government will consult on its approach to unregulated cryptoassets later this year. [1] https://assets.publishing.service.gov.uk/government/uploads/system/uploads/attachment_data/file/752070/cryptoassets_taskforce_final_report_final_web.pdf

Economic Situation

Chris Ruane: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, with reference to the IPPR report Measuring the benefits of integration: The value of tackling skills underutilisation, published 18 June 2019, what assessment he has made of the effect on the economy of migrants employed in positions for which they are overqualified.

Robert Jenrick: The Treasury has not conducted analysis on the specific question of overqualification of migrants. The future immigration system will support the UK economy to access the talent it needs. The Government has initiated an extensive programme of engagement to capture views, and ensure that we design a future system that works for the whole of the UK.

Government Departments: Brexit

Emma Reynolds: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, how much money his Department allocated the consolidated fund to the (a) Department for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy, (b) Cabinet Office, (c) Ministry of Defence, (d) Department for Education, (e) Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, (f) Foreign and Commonwealth Office, (g) Department of Health and Social Care, (h) Home Office, (i) Ministry of Justice, (j) Department for Transport, (k) HM Treasury, (l) Department for Exiting the European Union, and (m) Department for International Trade for contingency planning for leaving the EU without an agreement in each month since January 2019.

Elizabeth Truss: As set out in my Written Ministerial Statement to the House of 18 December 2018, departments were allocated over £2bn of funding for 19/20 to prepare for all EU Exit scenarios. A full breakdown can be found in the statement, (https://www.parliament.uk/business/publications/written-questions-answers-statements/written-statement/Commons/2018-12-18/HCWS1205/). Additional funding has been provided for the Single Intelligence Account (£13.95m); the Home Office (£5.45m); the Foreign and Commonwealth Office (£5.6m) and Department for Transport (£6m) since that announcement.

Research and Development Tax Credit

Paul Farrelly: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, what steps his Department is taking to support SMEs affected by the cap on the R&D tax credit scheme.

Jesse Norman: Research and Development (R&D) tax reliefs, including the small or medium-sized enterprise (SME) scheme, support businesses to invest and are a core part of the government’s support for innovation. Budget 2018 announced a cap on the payable tax credit element of the SME tax relief scheme of three times the company’s total PAYE and NICs liability for that year, to help prevent identified fraud and abuse of the scheme. The Government consulted on how the cap would be applied to minimise any impact on genuine businesses between 28 March and 24 May, and the responses to that consultation are presently under consideration.

National Insurance: Young People

Gavin Robinson: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, what steps his Department is taking to tackle recent problems with the issuing of National Insurance numbers to 16 year-olds.

Jesse Norman: Following a change in the way in which HMRC issues NI number letters to young people, there were some delays in issuing these automated letters. HMRC is now working to send individuals their letters. Anyone who has not received their automated NINo letter and needs one, can contact HMRC’s helpline on 0300 200 3500 to arrange for one to be issued.

National Insurance: Young People

Gavin Robinson: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, how many 16-year-olds have been affected by HMRC's technical problems that resulted in the non-issuing of National Insurance numbers.

Jesse Norman: HMRC estimates that up to 221,000 16 years may have experienced a delay in receiving their automated NINo notification letter. Anyone who has not received their National Insurance number letter and requires one, can contact HMRC’s helpline on 0300 200 3500 to arrange for one to be issued.

National Insurance: Young People

Gavin Robinson: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, what support his Department provides to 16 year-olds who are unable to obtain employment because they had not received their National Insurance number.

Jesse Norman: Individuals, including 16 year olds, are able to start work or apprenticeships without a National Insurance number (NINo) and advise their employer of it once they receive it. Anyone who has not received their NINo letter and needs one, can contact HMRC’s helpline on 0300 200 3500 to arrange for one to be issued.

Taxation: Electronic Government

Marion Fellows: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, for what reasons (a) co-operatives and (b) community benefit societies were excluded from using CATO software under HMRC’s Making Tax Digital scheme.

Marion Fellows: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, if he will make an assessment of the potential merits of expanding the usership of CATO software under HMRC’s Making Tax Digital scheme to include (a) co-operatives and (b) community benefit societies.

Marion Fellows: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, whether CATO software under HMRC’s Making Tax Digital scheme is able to be developed to include (a) co-operatives and (b) community benefit societies.

Jesse Norman: Making Tax Digital (MTD) has made no changes to the rules on who can file their Corporation Tax (CT) returns through the Company Accounts Tax Online (CATO) system. The Government will formally consult before any decision is taken to proceed with MTD for CT. When it consults, it will consider fully the needs of co-operatives, community benefit societies and others, and these sectors will all have the opportunity to make representations.

Energy: VAT

Hywel Williams: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, what the Government's definition is of battery storage in respect of the planned increase in VAT on energy-saving materials from five per cent to 20 per cent in October 2019.

Jesse Norman: Under UK VAT law, battery storage systems are not defined as energy saving materials and are subject to VAT at 20 per cent.

Department for Digital, Culture, Media and Sport

Football: Sportsgrounds

John Mann: To ask the Secretary of State for Digital, Culture, Media and Sport, in which year the responsible local authority last carried out emergency evacuation tests at each (a) Premier League and (b) Championship football stadium.

Mims Davies: My Department does not hold such information. While the Department for Digital, Culture, Media and Sport is responsible for the sports grounds safety legislation, responsibility for the safety of spectators lies at all times with the ground management of individual sports grounds. Certifying and regulating those sports grounds is primarily a matter for individual local authorities. In accordance with recommendations in the Guide to Safety at Sports Grounds, published by the Sports Grounds Safety Authority, ground management should prepare contingency plans for the evacuation of all people in the event of an emergency from all areas of the ground to a place of safety.

BBC

Grahame Morris: To ask the Secretary of State for Digital, Culture, Media and Sport, if he will make representations to the BBC on increasing spending and investment in (a) the regions and (b) Easington constituency.

Margot James: The BBC is operationally and editorially independent from government and the government cannot intervene in the BBC’s day-to-day operations.

Television: Licensing

Dan Jarvis: To ask the Secretary of State for Digital, Culture, Media and Sport, how many people aged over 75 are in receipt of a free TV licence in (a) Barnsley Central, (b) Sheffield City Region Mayoral Combined Authority and (c) Yorkshire and the Humber region.

Margot James: The Department for Digital, Culture, Media and Sport does not hold this information.

Television: Licensing

Dan Jarvis: To ask the Secretary of State for Digital, Culture, Media and Sport, what estimate he has made of the cost to the public purse of means-testing people aged over 75 for TV licences.

Margot James: The BBC is responsible for the cost and the administration of the over 75 licence fee concession from June 2020.

Pension Credit

Dan Jarvis: To ask the Secretary of State for Digital, Culture, Media and Sport, what steps his Department is taking with the Department for Work and Pensions to promote the take-up of pension credits.

Margot James: Ministers have regular discussions with the Department for Work and Pensions on this issue. In light of the recent BBC decision on the future of the over 75 licence fee concession, the Government have asked the BBC to consider a range of measures to further support the most vulnerable pensioners, including measures to promote the take up of Pension Credit.

Public Libraries: Staff

Kevin Brennan: To ask the Secretary of State for Digital, Culture, Media and Sport, what recent estimate he has made of the number of public libraries operating for all or part of their opening hours without staff.

Mims Davies: The Department for Digital, Culture, Media and Sport monitors library service provision throughout England, but does not hold figures on the number of public libraries operating for all or part of their opening hours without staff. Following discussions involving the Department and the Chartered Institute of Public Finance and Accountancy (CIPFA) the annual library statistics, will for the first time, report for each local authority the scheduled staffed and unstaffed opening hours per week for their libraries. This annual report will be published by CIPFA in November or December.

Creative Industries Council: Staff

Kevin Brennan: To ask the Secretary of State for Digital, Culture, Media and Sport, what recent assessment he has made of the adequacy of the representation of the creative industries workforce on the Creative Industries Council.

Margot James: My department has this year undertaken a review of the Creative Industry Council’s membership. That review resulted in several new appointments which ensure that all creative industries are adequately represented. Under the new Terms of Reference, all members are appointed for (renewable) three year terms, providing the basis for ongoing review. By design the CIC is made up of leading figureheads of industry, who are able to drive industry lead approaches to the issues discussed in the meetings. They are experts in their field who are well able to champion their respective workforces. The review also took into account the need to ensure that the diversity of the creative industries workforce was represented on the council. There is also a subgroup which specifically looks at diversity within the sector.

Writers

Kevin Brennan: To ask the Secretary of State for Digital, Culture, Media and Sport, what assessment he has made of the potential merits of setting up of a Creators' Council as recommended in the all-party parliamentary writers group report Supporting the Writers of Tomorrow.

Margot James: The Creative Industries Council is the main forum for creative industry and government collaboration. It has a specific sub group which focuses on IP issues, including the value of copyright and other intellectual property rights. We would urge the All Party Writers Group to contact that group to discuss the proposals raised in their report.

Voluntary Work: Young People

Cat Smith: To ask the Secretary of State for Digital, Culture, Media and Sport, pursuant to the Answer of 25 February 2019 to Question 223803, what proportion of young people who participated and completed National Citizen Service in each year since 2011 were not in education, employment or training.

Mims Davies: The Government does not currently collect data about the number of young people who participated in NCS who were not in education, employment or training. The Government does disaggregate NCS participant data by: black, asian and minority ethnic (BAME), minority religion, special educational needs and disability (SEND), free school meals (FSM) and young people in care.

Voluntary Work: Young People

Cat Smith: To ask the Secretary of State for Digital, Culture, Media and Sport, pursuant to the Answer of 4 March 2019 to Question 226156, what the Government's timeframe is for publication of the National Citizen Service 2018 participation figures.

Mims Davies: The Government will publish the NCS 2018 participation figures on gov.uk by autumn 2019.

Television: Licensing

Shabana Mahmood: To ask the Secretary of State for Digital, Culture, Media and Sport, whether a person over the age of 75 who is in receipt of pension credit and living with a spouse who is under the age of 75 will have to pay for a TV licence.

Margot James: The BBC is responsible for the administration of the over 75 licence fee concession from June 2020. It has said that any household with someone aged over 75 who receives Pension Credit will be eligible for a free TV licence funded by the BBC from 01 June 2020.

Television: Licensing

Shabana Mahmood: To ask the Secretary of State for Digital, Culture, Media and Sport, what discussions he has had with the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions on increasing the uptake of pension credit to reduce the effect of limiting free TV licences fee for people over 75.

Margot James: Ministers have regular discussions with the Department for Work and Pensions on this issue. In light of the recent BBC decision on the future of the over 75 licence fee concession, the Government have asked the BBC to consider a range of measures to further support the most vulnerable pensioners, including measures to promote the take up of Pension Credit.

Department for Exiting the European Union

Brexit

Emma Reynolds: To ask the Secretary of State for Exiting the European Union, when the Government last updated its published technical notices on the UK leaving the EU without a negotiated agreement; and whether his Department has plans to publish further updated technical notices.

James Cleverly: The Department for Exiting the European Union coordinated the initial publication of 106 Technical Notices between August and October 2018. Departments are responsible for their own Technical Notices and have continued to update them which included making changes following the agreement to extend the UK’s membership of the European Union until 31 October. Those changes took place on the 11 April 2019. The Government continues to prepare for all Brexit scenarios.

Prime Minister

Yemen: Armed Conflict

Keith Vaz: To ask the Prime Minister, what discussions she had with President Trump on the conflict in the Yemen during her meeting with the President on 4 June 2019; and if she will make a statement.

Mrs Theresa May: President Trump and I agreed that there had been political progress and that it was essential to continue to work with partners in the region in order to deliver a peace deal.

USA: State Visits

Catherine West: To ask the Prime Minister, which (a) Cabinet and (b) Junior Ministers attended the state banquet during President Trump's state visit.

Catherine West: To ask the Prime Minister, which (a) Cabinet and (b) Junior Ministers attended the state banquet during President Obama's state visit.

Catherine West: To ask the Prime Minister, whether the Home Secretary was issued with an invitation to the state banquet during President Trump's state visit.

Mrs Theresa May: Details of guests at State Banquets is published and can be found in the Court Circular.